TOO MANY DRUNKS

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 139, 9 December 1918, Page 7

TOO MANY DRUNKS

HOTELKEEPERS CRITICISED. "To-day eighteen drunks have been dealt with, and. one has been remanded," said Inspector Marsack, at the Magistrate's Court this morning. "That is double the number dealt with on Saturday, and more than double that of the previous day, when seven were dealt with. During the time the hotels were closed we had two blank days, and the charge-sheet for the rest of the time averaged three cases per day, some of which were due to the drinking of methylated spirits. It looks very much as if the hotel licensees are not taking the care that they should in serving the men. At the present time the Police Force is very much depleted, and perhaps has not been afole to pay the attention to the hotels that might be wished, but that should make a decent-minded licensee take all the more trouble to see that his hotel was properly conducted." Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., replied j that the number of cases was certainly too large. He had had the idea that hotelkeepers and Prohibitionists were absolutely opposed, but ' 'it almost seems as if they were in league to give every help to pass Prohibition throughout New Zealand. I have been astounded during the last few days to see so many drunken men in the town." Apparently some of the hotelkeepers were not alive to their own interests, or they would not permit so much drunkenness at a time like the present. Ten first offenders had their bail (10s) estreated, and the others were convicted and discharged. One man arrested was found to be suffering from a dislocated shoulder. He was remanded for medical treatment. Robert Filewood, a second offender, was given the choice between paying a fine of 10s and going to gaol for 48 hours. Two third offenders, James Wallace and Patrick Cunningham, were each fined 20s, in default three days in gaol. Mary Patterson was convicted and discharged for drunkenness, and was fined £2, in default three days in gaol, for having broken her prohibition order. Daniel Keane, described by the Inspector as an' incorrigible drunkard, admitted a sixth offence of drunkenness within six months and also a breach of his prohibition order. He ■was sent to the Roto Roa Inebriates' Home for twelve months.