PUBLIC HOUSE PUZZLE.

NZ Truth, Issue 253, 30 April 1910, Page 6

PUBLIC HOUSE PUZZLE.

Must Boozed Boarders Have Beds?

The question of whether a looker can get drunk on hotel premises, remain there m a state of obluscation, and get the publican into trouble for permitting drunkenness m his licensed house has been raised at Christchurch m the Supreme Court appeal, Suhan v. Holmes. The licensee of the K-aiapoi Hotel was convicted on a charge of permitting inkiness on his premises, and appealed because the unsober person was a lodger, and had been found m the hotel five minutes after closing time. Barrister Cassidf" contended that the publican was obliged by his contract with his guest to furnish him ■ with lotJgiugs, no matter what his condition might be :. and that it would be inhuman to turn him out at a late hour of. the night. The Crown, oh the other , hand, said that the licensee had permitted the man to guzzle all day until 10.5 •. p.m., when he was foand lying dead to., the world m a passage. It would be.; absurd if lodgers had a charter to filli 'em up again to such an extent that they became indisputably sosselled. Mr Justice Chapman reserved his decision. - .