AFTER HOURS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 5002, 17 October 1918, Page 7

AFTER HOURS.

HOTEL LICENSEES FINED

At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning before. Mr J. S. Barton, S.M., Benjamin Hodgson Aislabie was charged that.being the licensee of the Turnngamu Hotel, he sold liquor on September 22, when the premises were required to be closed and exposed the liquor for sale on t]i e same date. The defendant pleaded guilty.

Mr Wauchop, for the licensee, said it was customary for licensees to take stock on Sunday morning and tlie bar was then cleaned out bv the barman. Mr. Aislabie had taken ■stock and had left the barman in charge ot the bar. The licensee then went up to shave and dress for dinner. The barman was about to finish up when two men came in and were served by the barman unknown to the licensee. Sub-Inspector Dew said that it was admitted that Mr Aislabie was not in the bar. Tt was for the licensee to put a good, reliable man in the bar. The Magistrate said that there was an absolute liability on the licensee. If a licensee wanted to observe the law it was impossible to conceive that men could walk into the bar and get liquor. The taking of stock should be done with locked doors. A fine of £5 and 7s court costs was imposed in one calse and 7s costs m tho second. The barman, Ernest John France, was the defendant on a. charge of supplying two men named Henry • Johnson and James Paul Martin with liquor, when they were not entitled to be served. The Magistrate said the case was a deliberate one and the defendant would he fined £5 and 7s cost:; each, on both charges. Harry Johnson pleaded guilty to being on licensed premises during prohibited hours and was fined £2 and 7s court costs. James Paul Martin was fined a similar amount for a like offence on the same date. A licensee, Joseph John Martin, of tho Royal Hotel, pleaded guilty to exposing liquor for sale on the 20th ! of September at 6.11 p.m. Mr ! Wauebop, for the defendant .said • when the police entered the hotel , th c front door and the doors into tho j bar wore closed. Mr Martin was ] under the impression that it was not i quite so late whilst his attention | was distracted by a man who had occasion to ring up his people in the country to inform them that bo would not lie home for dinner. ’The bar waii closed. Sub-Inspector Dew said that Mr. Martin bore a good record and had been in the hotel for a number of years. The defendant was fined £5 and ordered to pay 7s costs. The defendant was further charged with selling and exposing liquor for sale on Sunday, September 22. Mr Wauchop said it was most unfortunate for tlie licensee that the offence should lianpen so soon after tlie other offence. Mr Martin was in bed all day on th e Sunday and on the Monday at his residence in Palmerston Road with an attack of influenza. Unfortunately hi 3 ' barman took advantage of his absence from tlie bar. Sub-Inspector Dew said it was admitted that the defendant was not on the premises. A fine of £5 and costs"wab imposed for the first offence and 7s costs in tlie other. Andrew Joseph Sheer in was ( charged with supplying liquor on Sunday, September 22, to Arthur Owen and was fined £lO with 7s costs. Michael Wall was charged with the same offence. It was explained that lieiwa.s a hoarder who merely went behind the bar. A fine of £1 and 7s costs was imposed. For being on licensed premises during prohibited hours Bartholomew Dcnnehy was fined £1 and 7s costs. Mr Wauchop urged that the defendant had merely overlooked the time, i The Magistrate said the case was not so flagrant as thc others and he would impel-:e a fine of £1 and /s costs. For a similar offence Petci Norberg was fined a like amount. Messrs Wall, Arthur Owen and Percy Sugden were each fined and '7s costs for being on licensed premises' after hours.