LIQUOR IN A CABARET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20982, 19 September 1931, Page 12

LIQUOR IN A CABARET.

FINES IMPOSED BY BENCH. SEQUEL TO A BALL. MAGISTRATE'S COMMENTS. SUPPLYING GIRLS WITH DRINK. Convictions were entered by Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., in tlic Police Court yesterday in the prosecutions brought by the police in connection with the consumption of liquor in the Peter Pan Cabaret. In delivering bis reserved judgment the magistrate expressed the opinion that further prosecutions of men who took liquor to cabarets and dance halls would prevent complaints about women and girls who appeared in the streets in an intoxicated condition. The cases were heard on September 11. Norman William Loveridge, manager of the cabaret, was charged with permitting the consumption of liquor in the cabaret when licensed premises were closed on July 23 the evening of the Auckland Aero Club's ball. A patron, Thomas Nicholson, was charged with drinking liquor in a restaurant when licensed premises were closed. In his judgment, the magistrate said Loveridge had been prosecuted under subsection 2 of section 11 of the Restriction of the Sale of Liquor Act, 1917. He reviewed the evidence of Constables Marlev and Pretious, who had visited the cabaret in plain clothes on July 18 and 23. Police Evidence of Drinking. Constable Marlcy had deposed to five instances of drinking in the cubicles on July 18 and had said that, in one case, liquor had been poured into glasses when an attendant was facing the occupants of a cubicle. A waiter had removed an empty whisky bottle from another cubicle. This witness had noticed drinking in four cubicles on July 23. Constable Pretious had stated that he had seen drinking taking place in three cubicles on July 18. A waiter had removed an empty bottle and the members of one party were noticeably affected by liquor. The witness had given evidence of three cases of drinking on July 23 and said liquor had been consumed in one cubicle which was passed by the manager and attendants. AVhen the police raided the premises at 11 o'clock on this evening defendant Nicholson had admitted ownership of a quantity of liquor. The defence was that Loveridge had done his best to prevent drinking in the cabaret, said Mr. Hunt. Notices had been placed about the premises saying that no liquor was to be brought or consumed there. It had been said that Loveridge had taken liquor away whenever he had seen it on the premises and, on several occasions, had called in the police to assist him in preventing people from bringing liquor into the cabaret. Also he had dismissed instantly an attendant who was detected drawing a cork for a patron. Men Who Give Girls Spirits. "Loveridge may have done his best," Mr. Hunt said, "but I am quite sure that there are many men to be found who could do the job better. hat was seen by the constables could have been seen as well by the defendant or any of his servants who wanted to. The charge against Nicholson has been admitted "Some of the reports I receive about girls leaving cabarets under the influence of liquor are scandalous," Mr. Hunt proceeded, "and the streets sometimes are disgraceful. W'e would soon stop this sort ot thing by prosecuting a few of the men who give these girls spirits. I think the City Council should assist and not leave the work entirely to the police." "We were forced to go to the Peter Pan Cabaret because of the complaints," remarked Detective-Sergeant Kelly. The magistrate imposed a fine of £ls on Loveridge and ordered the payment of costs by the defendant. He convicted Nicholson, and fined him £2 10s.