AFTER-HOURS TRADING.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2124, 16 May 1922, Page 7

AFTER-HOURS TRADING.

HOTEL CASF FINES INFLICTED. The incidents of a surprise visit paid by the police to the premises of the Occidental Hotel on a recent Saturday evening, when a convivial party was disturbed in the bar-room, were narrated at the .Magistrate's Court yesterday morning before Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., when the licensee, Thomas P. Lyons, was charged with having sold liquor after hours, and his wile, Eileen Lyons, with having supplied liquor after hours. Mr Ongley appeared for Ihe defendants, and entered a pica of guilty in each case. Senior-Sergeant Eraser said that Sergeant Manley, accompanied by Constable Bell, arrived at the hotel at 8.55 o'clock. On going inside they saw two men knocking at the barroom door. The two were admitted, and the police took the opportunity to enter behind them. Twelve men were assembled in the bar. Their names were taken, and it was seen that three were boarders. While . 'the tames were being taken, a knock was heard at the door, and two more men were admitted —one a kitchenman and the other a boarder. A moment later there was another knock, and two more men were admitted. Neither were boarders. There was every indication by the wet glasses on the counter—one actually did contain a quantity of beer —that liquor had just been served. Mrs Lyons was in the bar, but gave no further explanation than that "some of them" wore boarders. The licensee was upstairs, and knew nothing of the affair until sent for by the police. Mr Ongley said the licensee was a very old man and had been hotelkeeping for 32 yours The Magistrate: He has a fairly good record. Counsel went on to say that Mrs Lyons had had the keys of the bar in her possession, but in future the licensee would undertake that the keys would be kept by him alone, and that no one, not even boarder.-;, would be served after hours. The Magistrate: I have always said that that should be a provision in ilie Licensing Act. It would get rid of a great deal of trouble of this kind. The licensee was fined £2 and 7/ costs, and Mrs Lyons 15 and 7/ costs. The nine men found on the premises were each lined 12 and 7/ costs. They were: James Larsen, Jacob Styris, Frederic Fendl Alfred Paltridge, L. E. Downes, George JacK, James Fahey, James Marshall and Thomas Blown.