THE LICENSING LAW.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10762, 9 May 1911, Page 4

THE LICENSING LAW.

• (Per Press Association.) Wellington, May 8. At the Magistrate's Court to-day, before Mr W- G. Riddell, S.M., Thomas ■Palmer,;licensee of. the. Princess Theatre; ffiSel, wis;'charged \v-itli failio .pcSlice to premises on the evening of 2l£t ;April last. SubIjispeMolr • Sfieehair; prfesfecivted, and Mr A. appeared for defendant. Sergeant M'Crorie stated that at 10.20 p.m. on the date in question he noticed flight in the private bar of the Princess Theatre Hotel, and also heard the jingling of glasses. He knocked at the door, and a boy called out from thQ" inside, "Who!s there?" Witness replied "Police. Open the door, at once!" There was no response to -this command, but witness heard people hurriedly moving about*" inside. Witness continued' to knock at the door, andi eventually a man asked who "was there. said. "Police. Open the door at once," but the only reply "Oh, we've heard that tale, before. .Witness subsequently, went to. the back of the J he,' saw the, licensee, who, on being 'asked' why the police had fiot. beeri' a.amittpd,;: 'stated that he was ups£air£ in a Jairatory at trie time. On being 'admitted "to the hotel witness saw no sign's of a breach of the licensing laws.. Constable Shaw's evidence was corroborativel John M'Kinnon, barman at the hotel, stated that he heard the knocking, but did not open the door as he thought it was on|yi an excuse on: the part of a man. ,who wanted a drink. People often tried' to get into the hotel on this excuse. There were two boarders in the bar at the time. Thomas Palmer, licensee, stated that he was in. the lavatory upstairs when the .police called. He _ admitted the. sergeant as soon as possible after 'h&aririg"ihat"ilie was o.utside.. His Worship said'a-f on vision must be entered. Although' it was impossible for the licensee to open the door, his representative, the barman, should have done so. There'was no evidence that persons, had been unlawfully on the premises for the .purpose of drinking, and . the penalty would only be a nominal one.! Defendant Tvas fined with costs /s, with the alternative of 24 hours' imprison-; mcnt.