LICENSEE CHARGED

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 62, 10 September 1937, Page 15

LICENSEE CHARGED

SALE BY BARMAN

The point of a licensee's responsibility for the actions of his barman was raised in the Lower Hutt Court again yesterday, when Samuel George Platt, licensee of the Railway Hotel, was charged with selling liauor after hours. William- Meinung was charged that being a person other than the licensee of the Railway Hotel he supylied liquor after hours. Mr. H. P. Lawry, S.M.. was on the Bench.

Sergeant J. W. McHolm prosecuted. Mr. D. Perry entered a plea of not guilty on Platt's, behalf and guilty on behalf of the barman, Meinung.

Constable C. E. Tanner said that at 10.15 a.m. on August 29 (Sunday) he saw a man coming out of a side door of the hotel with a small cardboard box. This man admitted that he had been in the hotel and had been supplied with a glass of beer by the barman and had also bought a bottle of beer for Is 3d. Witness took the man back to the hotel and Meinung said: "What have you got to say about this mess?" The man said he had told thr truth, whereupon Meinung admitted the offence. Platt came down from upstairs and denied1 he had known that the man who was served was on the premises. Meinung was a regular barman during the week and on Sunday mornings he cleaned out and stocked the bar.

Mr. Perry said that Meinung had been a barman in the Hutt Valley for the past twelve years and this was his first offence against the licensing laws.

Platt, in evidence, stated that the barman lived off the premises and finished work at 6 o'clock every night. On Sunday mornings he stocked and cleaned out the bar. Witness served any boarders who required a drink.

In reply to a question by Sergeant McHolm, witness said that if he happened to be away he supposed Meinung could serve a boarder.

After legal argument as to the responsibility of a licensee for his barman's actions, Mr. Lawry stated that he would reserve his decision on this point.

Meinung was fined £2 and 10s costs.