PRIVATE BARS.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXIX, Issue 51, 7 February 1913, Page 3

PRIVATE BARS.

AN IMPORTANT JUDGMENT. WELLINGTON, Feb. 4. An important judgment relative to private bars was given to-day by Dr. MeArthur, S.M. The licensee of the Adelphic was charged with having employed in his private bar a female who was not registered as a barmaid. His Worship held that tiie bar referred to in the information was a private bar and that an offence had been committed. Defendant Avas fined £27 court fees. The magistrate pointed out that the penalty Avas a recurring one, but said he had no desire in the present case to inflict such a penalty as it was a test case. 'Mr Wilford (counsel for the defence) pointed out that the effect of the judgment was so far-reaching that it might have the effect of imposing the liability on hotelkeeoers of reconstructing licensed premises which had been constructed under authority of the existing laAv_, and it might also affect the license issued to many hotelkeeoers in New Zealand so far as the relation of ''bar" to "license" applied. Ho therefore gave notice to appeal. Several similar cases were adjourned.