RESPONSIBLITIES OF HOTELKEPERS.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14782, 27 September 1913, Page 14

RESPONSIBLITIES OF HOTELKEPERS.

AN AUCKLAND CASE

(PP.ESS ASSOCIATION - TELEGRAM.)

AUCKLAND.. September 25

Charged with having permitted drunkenness 0:1 their premiws, A. Whitehead and George ilydo. licensees of the Rising Sun and Star Ilotv-ls respectively, were summoned in tho Police. Court some days arr<>- Judgment in cases was delivered to-day by llr F. V. Fiazer. S..M. -Mr J. H. JJcttl. K.C., appeared for each of the (Iffoiidauts. with the crise cf Whitehead first, h'.» Wir,!>in w.id that two men tTitcrt-d tilt- bar of the hot. -J in company with a third man, v.-ho tras drunk. The two sober men wort; served .with drinks the inohmUd or.o pivon a 'd.iss of soria water. At tho tiiriO tlic i : ';'< n.'-cn w:..> away in-rrx tho and hl.i vi.'o \v.n« lot; in charge. Xeithfr of them knc.v that the drunkf-n man was in ih- bar. The barman. t;:ii'! his Worship, knew that the, man v,as drunk, but he was a mero wrvnnt and had artr<l quite ir.nocently in tho matter. The ;in:!:o:-it.v of tl:e licrriF.-.o had not been to him. His Worship quoted several cases in support of his decision, ami held that tho chr.rgo against the licensee of permitting drunJionnc&s upon his premises must bo dismissed.

In tho case against Goorpo Hyde, of the Star Hotel, the licensee was upstairs when tho drunken nan was in. the bar. His Worship said that in this case Hyde had no knowledge of what was_ going on in th<* bar. and the charge, against him would ha.vo therefore to be dismissed as well. ' "But at the samo time,'* , .said his Worship, "the licensee should take ftringont me-aaure.s to prevent suoh oectirrenrcs, wliicii ar>? inclined to bo too frcqt:r;:t. Lack of knowledge is no excuse, if ho keeps his eyes shut to what is u,oing on."

tils Worship said it would bo a Rood thing if the law on the subject was amended so as to innke the .bariium and not only the li<vr.s»>o.,. rrsponbiblo for permitting drunkenness upon licensed premiso*-