HOTEL VISITS

Evening Star, Issue 22086, 20 July 1935, Page 22

HOTEL VISITS

PERSECUTION BY POLICE ALLEGED MAGISTRATE INCREDULOUS [Special to the 'Stab.,’] AUCKLAND, July 19. Allegations that the police were “ persecuting ” Auckland hotelkeepers by their constant, persistent, and rigorous visiting of licensed premises were made by Mr J. F. W. Dickson in defending a licensee in the Police Court this morning. Sub-inspector Fox stated that Joseph P. Hall, agiiinst whom charges of opening his premises, for tho sale of liquor twice on Sunday, June 16, were • preferred, had been fined £o in June, 1934, for a breach of the Licensing Act.' “ The police find that this licensee is, a persistent after-hour said Mr Fox. Mr Dickson Said the sub-inspector’s observations had pot sufficient' evidence to support them, “It is almost a public scandal the way the police have persistently visited and raided Auckland hotels;” he said. “ I am speaking on behalf of other hotels when I make this statement. I can .assure your Worship that once an hotelkeeper is charged with a breach of tho law, it is impossible for him to get out of it.” _

Mr M'liean; Oh, no, that is not correct, Mr Dickson.

Mr Dickson: Tho determination shown by the police is such that one would think that they were working for the Prohibition Party. These allegations by Mr Fox should not be made without proper proof, 1 would not make these strong remarks otherwise. The hotels are constantly and persistently raided, some many times each week. The police have actually, entered the rooms of servants in the hotels. In one case they got a woman out of bed in her night attire. Mr M,‘Kean: I cannot imagine tho police would make frequent visits to hotels without some reason.

“All hotelkeepers arc constantly, persistently, and vigorously raided and visited,” said counsel. “It is common knowledge; in fact, the thing is becoming so, bad that; licensees cannot get legitimate hoarders.” , In fining Hall £2O on a charge of selling, Mr M‘Kean said he would not endorse his license. The . chargq pf keeping open for.sale was withdrawn.