LIQUOR AFTER HOURS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19498, 5 June 1925, Page 15

LIQUOR AFTER HOURS.

STRATH-TAIERI HOTEL. LICENSEE AND BARMAN FINED. At the City Police Court yesterday morning, belore Mr H. J. Dixon, S.Ai., William .Jaitrey Small. John Cameron, and Alexander Lancelot Cameron pleaded guilty lo being found on the premises of the titratix-T aieri Hotel, IVljddternaich, after closing hours on April 23 last. Reynold Adolph, barman in the hotel, pleaded guilty to a charge that, being a person other than the licensee, he supplied liquor to William Jeffrey timail, John Cameron, and Alexander Lancelot. Cameron after hours on April 25. John tiimpson, the 1 icon see of the Strath-Taieri Hotel, pleaded guilty to a similar charge. Mr B. S. Irwin represented each of the accused. , Sub-inspector OMlalloran said that between 8.10 and 8.40 p.m. on April 23 ‘ the three defendants want into the SnatnTaiori Hotel. The defendant Adolph served them with drinks all round, and they then went to a dance. Before Jeaving the defendant timail bought a hallbottle of whisky. The present case was not one of a barman supplying liquor, in the present of the licensee. The license© was on the premises when the liquor was served, but lie was not actually in the bar room. It was probable that tlm licensee knew, or should have known, what was going on. Last November the defendant Simpson had been fined for a technical breach, and another barman had been nncu in connection with the same offence, ihe Sub-inspector contended , that it was more than a technical breach on the present occasion. , Mr Irwin said that the facts as outlined by the Sub-inspector were admitted, but .the circumstances might be elaborated a little. The day the offence was committed the collie dog trials had been held at Middle-march, and both hotels were Itui, and Mr Cameron, one of the three defendants, had made a practice of staying at the Strath-Taieri Hotel, although he lived close at hand. He had a motor car, and, if ho had wanted to go home he could have easily done so. Wo had said tliat lie intended to remain at the hotel, and the licensee replied that lie would endeavour to lix him up- The defendant Cameron had met Smail, and they went into a sitting room. The barman Adolph asked Cameron if ho were a boarder and he had replied in the affirmative. Adolph did not know Smail at all, but when the last-named asked him if ho could get half a bottle he did so, as the barman was still under the impression that Small was a boarder, timail asked that the cost of the whisky be " mil down” against him, and he gave his name.. The barmain reported to the licensee, who said that Small was not staying in the hotel. when dnving in a motor car in which Smail was a ■passenger an accident occurred, and he_was admitted to the Dunedin Hospital, where ho was subsequently interviewed by the police. As the Sub-inspector had said, the facts showed tliat the barman had not exorcised as much care as he should have done, but the licensee did not know that an offence was being committe-d. It was a case in which a breach had upon inadvertently committed. Mr Irwin submitted references to the- Bench showing the good character of the defendants. The Magistrate, in imposing a fine of £5 with costs (13s), on the licensee Simpson, said that ho had been previously convicted, and he should have exorcised a more strict control. The barman also had not taken proper precautions, and more over, he must have known Small. We would be fined £5, and costs (13s). The court proceedings then concluded, and the throe defendants who had pleaded guilty to being on licensed premises after hours left the court room. On discovering the oversight an endeavour was made to recall them, but they were out of hearing, and consequently the Magistrate could not deal with them.