COUNTRY CLUB CASE

Evening Star, Issue 21717, 11 May 1934, Page 6

COUNTRY CLUB CASE

DECISION RESERVED [Per United Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, May 10. Prosecutions were brought in court to-day against Douglas _ Palmer Claridge, proprietor of Claridge’s Country Club, 207 New Brighton road. Claridge was charged that, being the proprietor of Claridge’s Country Club, he permitted liquor to be drunk at a time when licensed premises were required to ha closed, and also with keeping open on a Sunday a house knotfn as Claridge’s Country Club for the purpose of transacting business. The defence was that the club was a private one to which many prominent citizens of Christchurch belonged; that it could not be classed as. a public cabaret or public restaurant; and that before it had been formed the whole plan of working had been placed before the police and approved. For the defence, Mr Claridge described the method of conducting the club. _ Colin Flint, a taxi driver, said he had often driven people to Claridge’s who wore refused admission because they were not members. Peter James Harris said it was his duty to look after members’ liquor at the club. He had never sold liquor to anyone. The magistrate reserved his decision.