LICENSEES FINED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23275, 18 February 1939, Page 18

LICENSEES FINED

■LIQUOE AFTEE lIOI'KS f VISITS BY THE POLICE ONE DEFENDANT TO PAY £2O 's> two EARLY _ MORNING RAIDS

As a sequel to two early morning raids by the police on the Hobson Hotel, ' the licensee, Peter Hall, pleaded guilty in the Police Court yesterday, before Mr. C. R. Orr Walker, S.M., to one charge of opening his premises for the sale of liquor and toother charge of selling liquor after hours. Sub-Inspector Fox prosecuted iftid Mr. Dickson appeared for defendant. $§ Mr. Fox said that Sergeant Brown placed a constable outside the hotel ■early "on the morning of November 3, 1938. He wore fairly old clothing and fey 6.30 a.m." about 20 men had assembled. Shortly afterwards the licensee appeared and with a wave of his hand and nod' of the head, indicated that business was on. Some of the men did not enter, nor did the constable, %ho called a sergeant and another constable. | . "About 17 Men in Kitchen" i "When the police entered, there was 'nobody in the bar, but there were about 17 men in the kitchen," said .Mr. Fox. "Two had a right to be there, but the others should not have been there. Most of them have already been dealt with." ;r Continuing, Mr. Fox said that on December 23 at 7.40 a.m. Sergeant Southworth saw Hall and got into conversation with him for a few minutes. A constable arrived and entered the hotel with tho sergeant. They found business in full swing. There were about 30 men in the public bar and six in the private bar. Before their Dames could be taken many of the snen got away. -If "Defendant made no excuse, but when the police were leaving he expressed hostility," said the sub-inspec-tor. "He said other hotels seemed to •be allowed to carry on. The police 6ay most of the men were of the ; 'down-and-out' type. The police visited ■■these premises early in the morning as a result of complaints about business "going on in the morning." 0. Submission by Delence J Mr. Fox said that defendant had been fined £5 in May, 1936 and £2O in July of that year. '<£ Mr. Dickson said that defendant had not been * guilty of a breach in two and a-half years. He was a very sick man and the greatest punishment / .he could suffer was leaving his prem!sses! He would be leaving without making any ! profit. In imposing a fine of £lO on each charge the magistrate said that had defendant not been leaving the hotel hie would have had no hesitation in his licence. For aiding and assisting, Stephen .White, a barman, was fined £5 with 10s ■ costs. Another Licensee Fined

m A plea of guilty to a charge of selling liquor after hours was entered by Calahan, licensee of the Arms Hotel (Mr. McffVeagh). Mr. Fox said that Sergeant Brown E and Constable Needham were in the of the Carpenters' Arms ".'Hotel at about 8.30 p.m. on Friday, December 23, when they saw seven jjmen go into the hotel, f "When the police entered the premiises they saw about 'lff men in the public bar and seven in the private ..bar,'' continued Mr. Fox. ( /'Two barmen and the licensee's wife were beio'nd the bar. While the police were looking rqund, some of the men got igaway, but a number of names were •taken." H "The police are not' like Nelson—*they have not a blind eve* apparently," /said Mr. McVeagh. "In view of the iproximity of the date to the festive .■{season the licensee thought that on 'such occasions the police were accustomed to allow a little indulgence." defendant was fined £7 10s with "pOs costs. 4 Seven men were fined £1 each and costs 10s, for being found in the Cnr■penters' Arms Hotel after hours and ftwo of them were fined £2 and costs XioT -giving a false name and address. !*• Two. men convicted of being ffound at the Prince Arthur Hotel after "•hours were fined £3 each with costs, |.for procuring liquor after hours. defendant was fined £1 for ;• being found in the hotel.