THE LICENSING LAW

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22422, 17 November 1934, Page 14

THE LICENSING LAW

HOTELKEEPERS’ DIFFICULTIES - “ NOT CLAIRVOYANTS.” (Pee United Press Association) AUCKLAND, November 16. “ Hotelkeepers . are not clairvoyants into the inner intentions of visitors posing as bona fide guests, and if a conviction is made in this case licepse.es in Auckland will be placed in an impossible position,” said Mr Dickson, counsel for the defendant, when Albert Edward Neville, licensee of the Ambassadors Hotel, appeared in the Police Court on three charges of opening his licensed premises, exposing liquor for sale, and selling liquor after hours. The house porter at the hotel, Donald Wilson. was charged with aiding and abetting. Pleas of not guilty were entered. Mr Dickson submitted that, if a man entered his name as a lodger, gave his address and affirmed his intention of staying the night at the hotel, the licensee had no alternative but to accept him at his word. He could not see into the man’s own mind. 1 The magistrate, Mr F. K. Hunt, suggested, that the licensee might ask a man for his hoard money first. Mr Dickson: That would be a piece of impertinence. It is not done in Auckland. He added that, even if at the worst young men booked in to stay at an hotel over the week-end merely for the sake of drinking, ' that would be perfectly legal if they were bona fide lodgers. Mr Dickson suggested that the court should not let itself be swayed by allegations made by the .New Zealand Alliance, hut should; judge each case solely p’t its merits. The defendant said in evidence that all the men he booked in said they were going to stay the night. It was unusual to demand board in advance. Mr Hunt: So a man can go into an hotel, get a meal, drinks, bed and breakfast, and then next morning say he has no money? Witness: He pays for his liquor as he goes along. Mr Hunt: Is the rest thrown in? Mr Dickson: -If your Worship is going to ask questions like that I had better abandon the case. Mr Hunt: As'you please. In reply to a further question from Mr Hunt, witness said that 22 men had been booked for that night and only two had riot stayed. It was quite common for men to stay the night without pyjamas or other luggage. Judgment was reserved.