DINING ROOM AND BAR

Franklin Times, Volume XXX, Issue 89, 13 August 1941, Page 4

DINING ROOM AND BAR

HOTEL PROCEDURE PATRON IN DIFFICULTIES PAPAKURA COURT CASE The correct procedure to adopt, by eaters and drinkers in hotels was outlined in a prosecution at Papakura last week when a Sergeant of Police came to the conclusion that a resident knocking at Die door of the bar of the Globe’Hotel was hopefully looking for a few bottles of beer to be passed out lo him from someone on the' inside. Fortunately or unfortunately the popular refreshment did not get passed out but was carefully pul somewhere else.

The resident, however, had a different story altogether. He said that ;ts it had been raining lie decided to stay and have dinner at the hotel. Incidentally the Sergeant said it was not

raining and for a few seconds defendant and Ihe Sergeant figured in a passage-at-arms. Defendant did assert, however, in order lo get a rainy atmosphere round his evidence, that an accompanying policeman had a macintosh on.

Sergeant T. It. Dyer opened proceedings for the prosecution against Frank Woolliams for being on licensed premises after hours by stating that at G. 20 p.m. on a certain evening he entered the Globe Hotel and saw defendant at the door leading to the bar and its tie walked towards it, somebody was in a hurry lo close it. -lust inside was Ihe porter wtih three bottles of beer,'so lie asked Hie porter who the beer was for, and he replied that il was his own and that he was going to lake il to his room. To this reply the Sergeant I old the barman that it was strange he should leave off sweeping the lloor to take beer to his room.

Defendant’s explanation was that he had come Lo have dinner. Defendant who conducted 1 1 is own defence with vigour, said he decided to have dinner as it was raining and tic went into the dining room and found no .one there, so he walked across io the liar door and knocked — he had previously washed tiis hands — for the purpose of asking tlie proprietor if there was any service in the hotel. At this moment the police came in. The .Magistrate: Do you have meals al Ibis hotel often? Defendant: About once a month. Three weeks ago was the last time. Defendant continuing, said he had every right lo he in the hotel: he was only knocking at the door. The Alagistrate: II is very dangerous to knock al the bar door after hours. The Sergeant : He was quite impudent. Defendant: ' spoke ci'illy. The Sergeant: You thought you would stop for dinner and beat the police. Constable S. Wills, who was asked by His Worship about the weather at. this time, said il was nol raining, but had been, .iusl before ">.30. He had been talking in (lie street and nol worrying about shelter. The Alagistrate lined defendant £1 and ordered him to pay the costs. 10s.