LICENSING LAWS BROKEN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 21 July 1944, Page 4

LICENSING LAWS BROKEN

a PENALTIES FOR SELLING AFTER j HOURS ? As the result of a raid by Sergeant J. R. C.orston on two hotels, a number of prosecutions for breaches of 5 the Licensing Act were brought in ' the Magistrate’s Court tjiis morning, : before Mr T. E. Maunsell, S.M. 5 Francis Hubert Quinney, licensee 5 of the Exchange Hotel, (Mr C. R. ’ Fell) pleaded guilty to a charge of “ selling liquor after hours. The sergeant said he visited the hotel as'a result of seeing patrons going in at the back entrance of the hotel. The bar was fully lighted, and there were 15 persons in it. The licensee made no excuse. The minimum fine of £lO and 10s costs was imposed. The Jarman, Harold Young (Mr Fell) pleaded guilty to a similar charge and was also fined £lO and 10s costs. Four first offenders, found on the Exchange Hotel and four on the Post Boy Hotel after hours were each fined £2 and 10s costs. “I hope it is generally known that for people who drink liquor after hours there is a minimum penalty of £2.” said the Magistrate. One defendant in a letter said that he had been recently discharged alter service overseas and his name was taken, but some of his companions, though in uniform had not had the privilege of going out of New Zealand and their names were not taken. The sergeant had suggested that they were there at defendant’s invitation. In reply to the Magistrate the sergeant said that he would give his Worship the reason in chambers. There were security reasons for not taking action in some cases. Gladys Eleanor Jones, licensee of the Post Boy Hotel, pleaded guilty and was fined £lO and 10s costs for selling liquor after hours. Defendant also pleaded guilty to unlawfully supplying a person under the age of 21. but said she did not know the boy’s age and thought he was fully 22. The sergeant said the boy was six months under the age of 21. and the Magistrate remarked: “That is touch and go.” Seeing the youth in Court the Magistrate added that he did not know that he would place the boy *as under 21. If the person was apparently over the age of 21 that was a defence. The sergeant said he did not ask for a fine. The Magistrate recorded a conviction and discharged the defendant.