SUNDAY SWANK.

NZ Truth, Issue 250, 9 April 1910, Page 7

SUNDAY SWANK.

Case Against the Commercial. A Curious Position. It is alleged that Sunday trading took place m the Conwaercial ftotel, Lambton yuay, Wellington, on the evening of Sunday, March 13. On that evening Sergeant Kelly and Constable Faulconbridge made a raid on the shikkur premises, with the result that a baker's dozen of men were found drinking, on the premises. . Some of these individuals were convicted by Magistrate Riddell at the Wellington S.M.s Court a fortnight ago. Mr. Fell, who appeared on behalf of the Official Assignee, stated that Licensee George Pinnock had been adjudicated a bankrupt since the institution of proceedings, aM that the hotel was being carried on by an agent of the Official Assignee, who was interested m the present proceedings. In the event of the S.M. deciding to convict Pinnock and endorse the license, the* value of the property would be affected, and this concerned the creditors. The S.M. said that he^would communicate -v : fch Mr Fell if lie decided ■. that the case was one for the endorsement of the license, m order that counsel might be heard on the subject. On Friday week there was a repetition of the proceedings, when George Pinnock, the licensee, was prosecuted on three charges of having sold shikkur during prohibited hours on the evening of March 13, Sub-Inspeclior Norwood prosecuted, and Mr A. L. Herdman appeared for the defendant, who pleaded not guilty. The hearing of the case occupied considerable time. . The defence set up by Mr Herdman was that the barman who sold the liquor had taken reasonable precautions to ascertain that those supplied were lodg-: ecs m the place. : Edward •'. Van Delden, the manager^ and Geo. Pinnock, the ex-licensee, gave evi-^ dence, the latter swearing that he bad directed Van Delden not to serve anybody on a Sunday unless .>■ they were boarders. ' His Worship reserved' his decision till Wednesday. . . . ■ On Wednesday morning last Mr HaseVden gave his reserved decision m Finnock's case, and on the charge ■of supplying liquor to one Anderson on March 13, a fine of £10 and costs was imposed. . Two other charges were dismissed. Arthur Logan and Frederick Male, who were found on the premises on the said Sunday, were \ each mulcted m. a fine of £2 aad costs. .