A LITTLE DINNER

Grey River Argus, 30 June 1925, Page 2

A LITTLE DINNER

LEADS TO COURT CASE. AUCKLAND, June 27 An “item” which did not appear on tlrn menu of the Auckland sportsmen’s dinner at the Hotel Cargen on the evening of June 4th xvas “served” in file Police Court this morning, when the licensee of the hotel appeared to answer charges of selling liquor alter hours, and also allowing liquor to be consumed on the premises. Mr G. P. Finlay appeared or the defendant, Robert Chesney, who pleaded guilty to both charges. Sub-Inspector Rawle said that the prosecution xvas the result of a dinner held under the auspices of the Auckland Sportsmen’s Association a! the Hotel Cargen on the night of June 4th last, betxveen the hours of 7 p.m. and midnight, each guest being admitted by ticket, costing £2 2s. On June 3rd an application was made to the Licensing Committee under Section I<>4 of the Licensing Act, 1908, to have the dining-room set apart for the function, but this was not granted. It would be proved that the dinner was held, that. 67 guests participated, that whisky was being consumed at 8.40 p.m., and that a cheque signed by \\. Ryan, with the amount not tilled in, was handed to the defendant, who. folloxving it being ascertained what portion of liquor sent into the diningroom for dinner had been consumed, stated that he would fill in the amount of the cheque. This had not been done up to lhe evening of June sth. “This case is in itself a small tragedy,” said Mr Finlay in addressing the Magistrate, Mr I’oynton. “The police were advised of what xxould be done, and the opinions ol two pronvinent counsel were obtained. I legret 1 was mJ one of them. (Laughter). An attempt has been made to create a test case by an organised body representative of the licensed vi<‘l nailers and the clubs interested all over New ’Zealand, but owing to a little slip this cannot be taken as a test case. HitluTto Ike piwtice los been I- gel from the Licensing Committee the exclusive use of a room. By moans ol I his expedient, many august bodies, including the Law Society itself, have entertained eminent judges, real am! to be, and prominent magistrates ol this city. The chairman of the Licensing Committee found that when the application was made in this ease there was no authority to grant such a liberty. and consequently if these dinners („ 1„. held in clubs and hotels, some real authority will have to be sought, enabling the service to be rendered. There were some of the most illustrious people of the town at this dinner, your Worship, and 1 will ask you to treat the penalty as one commensurate with a penalty in a test case,” concluded Nfr Finlay. Mr I’oynton: This is .altogether different from the usual licensing case, as the opinions of'two eminent emnisel were obtained and acted upon. It is n „t nu ordinary case where the lacensiug Act has been deliberately broken. On information the defendant will be convicted and ordered to pay costs, and th., other will be dismissed under Seetiem 92 of the Justices of the I’oace Act.