EGGS ON ELECTION NIGHT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1335, 12 January 1912, Page 4

EGGS ON ELECTION NIGHT.

A CIiniSTCHURC]I INCIDENT. lUy Telegraph—Press Association.) Christchurclt, January 11. The Curistchurch Licensing Committee sat to-day to hear a complaint lodged against Warner's Hotel that on general election night rotten eggs were thrown from ti.o building. Tho police evidence was to tho effect that eggs wero hrown from the balcony or other part of tho building, where people congregate.l to 'see the posting of election results. For tho defence evidence was called to prove that no eggs were thrown. The committee retired to consider their finding, and on returning the chairman (the Rev. 11. S. Gray) said the committee considered the polico were abundantly justified in bringing the charge. They did not for a moment agree that the matter was a storm in a teacup, as had been suggested. The committee believed that tho police had quite proved their catc. The evidence led for tho defence was purely negative, and the committee accepted absolutely the evidence given by the police as to the facts. Th» committco did not think that tho licensee (Mr. Palmer) was personally connected with tho offences, and they tna/lo allowances for tho fact that it -was election night, and that Mr. Palmer could not exercise the same supervision over tho hotel that he was supposed to do, and presumably did do, on ordinary occasions. The committee reprehended very strongly the languago which Sir. Palmer is declared to have used to the police, and which had not been denied by "him. The committee disapproved also of the suggestion which Mr. Palmer made to Sergeant Miller that if the sergeant waited upon him in private clothes ho would find him a man. the committee held very strongly that that should not be tho attitude of a licensee of a public houao to any police for an officer of polico was nhrays an officer of police so far as a. publio house was concerned. Tho committee did not think they were justified in taking any action in Tegard to tho licensee in view of the special circumstances of' the case, lint they believed the police were absolutely justified in bringing the charge, and that on the evidence the charge would bo unhcld.