SHELVES CLEARED

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 68, 13 December 1932, Page 11

SHELVES CLEARED

Troubles of Auckland . Licensee ‘A HARSH EXPERIENCE’ Dominion Special Service. Auckland, Dec. .10. “It is quite obvious that the defeudants were not suited to the job- of carrying on an hotel,” said. Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday, when Albert Haltmeyer, licensee of the Carpenters’ Arms Hotel, and Bertha Haltmeyer, his wife; were charged with breaches of the Licensing Act.

The licensee was charged with keeping licensed premises open after hours for the sale of liquor,* with selling liquor after hours, and with permitting drunkenness on the premises. Bertha Haltmeyer was charged with supplying liquor after hours. 1 Mr, Uren, who appeared for defendants, said a plea of guilty would be entered ou all charges. Mentioning that Haltmeyer, formerly a baker, was entirely inexperienced in the running of an hotel, Mr. Uren detailed some of the difficulties the licensee had to meet, in dealing with the class of men who frequented the hotel.

“Sometimes some would start a row in the passages, and when Haltmeyer and his wife ran to see what was wrong, those in the bar would clear the shelves,” said counsel. “Three times the electric iron was turned on and the Rlaee nearly set on fire, and under cover of the excitement the bar shelves would again be cleared. It has been a harsh experience for my client.” Detective-Sergeant Kelly said that at 8.40 p.m. on November 5, as a result of complaints received, a party of constables visited the hotel and found 13 men in the bar. The licensee and the men had all been frank about the affair. One of the men was helplessly drunk.

It was mentioned that a transfer of the license from Haltmeyer had already been signed. “Iu view of that fact I shall do nothing about the license,” said the magistrate, in convicting defendants. Haltmeyer was fined £5 on the charge of selling, and £3 on the charge of permitting drunkenness. The charge of keeping open after hours was withdrawn. Bertha Haltmeyer was fined £2 on the charge of supplying liquor. Eight men who pleaded guilty to a charge of being found on the premises were each fined £1 and costs.