A LODGER’S “SHOUT.”

Otago Witness, Issue 3195, 9 June 1915, Page 23

A LODGER’S “SHOUT.”

WANGANUI, May 28. A person’s liability in going into a hotel after closing hours and then having a drink was Questioned in the Feilding Court, when a man named B oard was charged with being on licensed premises at Apiti after closing hours. According to the evidence, the accused went into the hotel after the closing time to receive payment of an account. His debtor, after they were in the hotel, asked him to have a drink, and then the police came in. His debtor was a lodger, “ and the question is,” said Mr Boynton, S.M., “ can a lodger treat a friend who. s not a lodger? The law appeared to bo this; ‘lf the lodger takes a man into a hotel for the purpose of giving him a drink, the guest is improperly in the hotel; but if for any other purpose, as “to see him about a dog.” etc., and after he is in decides to treat him, he is entitled to do so, and the inconvenient advent of_the police makes no difference.’ ” The case was therefore dismissed. - After giving judgment his Worship suggested that the licensing law should be amended. A. lodger, he said, could not take a friend in after 10 p.m. to have a drink only, but provided he took him in for some other purpose he could treat him to a drink. Mr Boynton’s opinion was that from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. was quite sufficient length of time for anyone to get a drink, either guest or lodger, and no one should be allowed to have drink outside those hours.