LICENSING BREACHES

Evening Star, Issue 22684, 25 June 1937, Page 15

LICENSING BREACHES

WARNING TO HOTELKEEPER mu fwnb in mmm “ Tho license will be returned, but if there are any further breaches probably the license will be endorsed,” said the magistrate (Mr H. W. Bundle) in respect of Francis John Fay, licensee of tho Criterion Hotel, who pleaded guilty in the Police Court to-day to selling liquor after hours. Charges, of exposing liquor for sale after hours and of keeping licensed premises open after hours were withdrawn by the police. The barman, John M'Carthy, pleaded guilty to supplying liquor after hours. Mr L. 11. Simpson represented the two defendants. Senior-sergeant Packer, who prosecuted, said that Constables Irwin and Baxter had gone to the the Criterion Hotel, where there was a chain on the door and where they were able to go in without anyone being aware of their presence. They saw a light and heard talking from a" bar. The licensee, who had been at the wrestling, came out, and got the keys from upstairs. When he opened the door of tho bar he found M'Carthy and five men there. Three of them, after the police visited the place, booked in for the night. The de-

fendant said that the barman, M'Carthy, had no right to supply any. body. Mr Simpson said that there was a recent conviction against the licensee, but in that case the facts were somewhat exceptional, and the licensee had taken steps to avoid a recurrence. Owing to the structural alterations that were taking place at the hotel it was impossible to completely close the doors of the premises. Three of the men on the premises were from outside Dunedin, and intended to stay the evening. The licensee regretted that the position should have arisen, but it could bo said for the barman that he assumed that the porter on duty outside had checked the position so far as the men were concerned. Senior-sergeant Packer said that outside these two offences the conduct of the hotel had been very good indeed. Fay was fined £7 10s and costs (10s), and M'Carthy was fined £3 and cost* (10s). The five men who were charged with being unlawfully on the licensed premises were Stewart Daniel, Domini* Newall, Lloyd, Tattersfield, James Turnbull, and Duncan Wilson, each of whom was fined 10s and costs.