A HOTELKEEPER'S POSITION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12817, 17 March 1905, Page 6

A HOTELKEEPER'S POSITION.

CAN HE REFUSE A DRINK?

At yesterday's meeting of the Auckl Licensing Committee there was an interesting discussion 011 the question whether a hotelkeepcr can refuse to supply liquor to a sober man coining to his hotel. The point arose out of a police complaint that a hotel keeper had allowed convicted thieves and reputed thieves to be in his hotel. Mr. Haue, who appeared for the hotelkeeper, said if a man went to a hotel for a lawful purpose, namely, to have a drink, and behaved himself, nobody in this world had a. right to turn him out, and ary policeinan who attempted to turn p.ith a ir.*r. out was, ill his opinion, committing tin illegal act. Sub-Inspector Black said a licensee was not bound to serve any man with 1 <|Uor. If he refused to serve an objectionable character and the man refused to .leave the house, did any man with common sense say that a, policeman, if sent for, was not justified in turning the man out? It was done almost every day. Mr. Baume> read a clause of the Licensing Act to show that a licensee could refuse to supply a man with liquor if the liquor was demanded only as a pretext for remaining on the premises. Sub-Inspector Black : According to a later amendment tho publican is not bound to serve anylvody. Mr. Ranme: I would very much like to see the section. To demand liquor from a hotelkeeper was just the same as demanding food or a bed. A hotelkeeper was hound to supply any person who came in a respectable manner and demanded food, liquor, or a bed. providing he has the requisite accommodation, that the visitor is prepared to pay the ordinary price, and that he is not such a person as would create a disturbance in the place. The committee adjourned the case without solving the point.