LIQUOR CHARGES

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 309, 24 September 1943, Page 5

LIQUOR CHARGES

Legal Points Raised

Two charges of keeping lor sale lato.vleating liquor without being licensed to do so. and two charges o£ using a room in Boulcott Chambers as a place of resort for the consumption of liquor were brought in the Magistrates’ Court, Wellington, against John J’atrick Behan, steward, aged 43. Senior-Sergeant A. 11. Barnes said accused was the occupier of rooms le and 2e in Boulcott Chambers, and room 2c had been used as a drinking resort for servicemen and their women companions. Accused conducted a pressing and boot-cleaning business nearby in Willis Street, and frequently called at .Boulcott Chambers while drinking was going on. The premises were raided on September lU, and Micro were then nine sailors and a number of women in the room. Twelve buttles of beer were seized, and there were also HO empty beer bottles, and three empty wine buttles. The room was titled as a lounge. Air. G. 1. Joseph, who appeared tor accused. who pleaded not guilty to all charges, submitted that there was no evidence of sutlicient. selling to make the premises a resort; only two sales were noted over two nights’ watching. No information had been laid under the Licensing Act. and though, under the Emergency Regulations a person could be arrested and brought before the Court, it was submitted that an information bad still to be laid under the regulations. The two charges under the regulations had been added alter the arrest. Mr. A. 31. Goulding. S.M., said it was a little unusual fur a man to be arrested without a charge being laid. He said be would reserve Ids decision on the point whether a man could be arrested unde:’ the Licensing Regulations without ah information being laid. Accused was remanded for a week.