After-Hour Drinking; Magistrate’s Comment

Press, Volume C, Issue 29702, 21 December 1961, Page 16

After-Hour Drinking; Magistrate’s Comment

(New Zealand Press Association)

TIMARU, December 20. “It seems a little unfortunate that otherwise reputable citizens should be unable to have a beer and meet friends if they want to because they cannot get to a hotel before 6 pun., but it is the duty of the Court to impose a fine, the law being what it is,” said Mr N. M. Izard, S.M., in the Timaru Magistrate’s Court today. He convicted and fined 11 men £2 each for being found unlawfully on the licensed premises of the Pleasant Point Hotel on November 3. Mr Izard said the police had a duty to enforce the law, but in view of the circumstances he would impose a smaller fine than usual Earlier. Maurice John Hardy, the licensee of the hotel was fined £lO for selling liquor after hours and

Stanley James Yates, a barman, was fined £5 for supplying liquor after hours.

Sergeant J. W. Thompson said about 8.20 p.m. on November 3 a police party of a sergeant and two constables visited the hotel and found several men in the bar, with Yates serving. “As in most country places where there is only one hotel, people use the hotel as a club,” Mr R. S. Frapwell said for defendants. “It is farcical that we have 6 o’clock closing in the country districts. In this case, 10 of those found in the bar are farm workers. They had just finished harvest work, and were having a drink before going home. There was no noise, and they were well behaved—they are all respectable and decent citizens.” “It gives me no pleasure to fine people who are respectable citizens,” the Magistrate said to Hardy.