HOTELS AND CHRISTMAS DAY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7335, 13 January 1911, Page 1

HOTELS AND CHRISTMAS DAY

CHARGES AGAINST WEST COAST LICENSEES. OF SELLING LIQUOR UN DECEMBER 26th. tEEBS ASSOCIATION.: WESTPORT, January 13. Before Mr Rawson, S.M., to-day, Martin Ryan, licensoo of the Grand Hotel, was charged' with, illegally exposing liquor for sale and selling liquor on Monday, December 26th, such) day, according to the Public Holidays Act, passed last .session, being deemed to be Christmas 1 Bay, as Christmas ' Bay had fallen on Sunday. Counsel for defendant (Mr Molony) argued lengthily to prove that the legislature did not intend to niake .hotels close on that day, 'any matters" affecting the liquor trade being either specially legislated for in the form of licensing Acts, or expressly and ■ stated in ' such other Acts where the liquor. trade was to be affected. Th© publican's license was granted from last June to next May, and the Legislature would not reduce the privileges under or property, held in such license except by some form of compensation. The legislation was not intended to be retrospective. Police-Inspector. Black, for the prosecution, argued that a literal interpretation of the section of tho Act, not the intention of the Legislature, should bo accepted. Tho magistrate reserved his decision in similar charges against Patriot Ryan, licensee of the Albion Hotel. In charges of being' illegally on licensed premises against three men, judgment was also reserved.