LIQUOR SALES BY RESTAURANTS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28890, 9 May 1959, Page 17

LIQUOR SALES BY RESTAURANTS

Fines Total £2Ol

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, May 8.

The commission of the licensing offences by the restaurant was largely caused by the public demand, and in these circumstances he was justified in assessing a penalty less than would otherwise be imposed, said Mr A. A. Coates, S.M., when the Gourmet Restaurant, Ltd., and three of its staff were charged with a number of licensing offences in the Auckland Magistrate’s Court today. It w r as unfortunate, the Magistrate said, that restaurants such as the Gourmet should not be able to serve their patrons with liquor at meals.

“But unfortunately the Court has still to uphold the law as it exists,” he said. “The restaurant, with previous convictions has to be regarded as a consistent offender.”

The Magistrate said he would take into consideration the police report that there we're no signs of intoxication or unruliness when police constables had liquor there or when the police raided on March 31.

On three charges of selling liquor without a licence the company waS fined £9O with £4 10s costs and on one charge of keeping liquor for sale was fined £lO with £1 10s costs.

The manager, Bruno Johannes Loos, was fined £lB on charges of being a party to the selling and ordered to pay costs for assisting to keep liquor. Peter Greenup and Cecil Anthony Hugh Williamson, waiters, were fined £4 and £8 respectively on charges of assisting in the sale of liquor. All admitted the charges. Second Restaurant Another restaurant, Hagan’s, and some of its staff, appeared before the Magistrate on similar charges today. The company was fined a total of £4O and £4 10s costs on three charges of selling liquor without a licence and £lO with £1 10s costs for keeping liquor for sale. Norman Thomas Hagan was fined £l5 on charges of selling and ordered to pay costs on one of keeping. A waiter, Lee James Prout, was fined £6 on two charges of selling. All parties pleaded guilty.