LICENSING LAW.

Otago Witness, Issue 3327, 19 December 1917, Page 52

LICENSING LAW.

EIGHTS OF PUBLICANS. ...... Oob Own Correspondent.) " WANGANUT, December 6. A case of very, great interest to hotelkeepers and the travelling public was dealt with at the Marton Court to-day, when Charles Stuart, licensee of the Marton Hotel, was charged, with exposing liquor for sale after hours. Mr Cohen, counsel for the defence, pointed out that the landlord had taken a party, including Mr B. M'Caul and his children, in his motor car to a shearing match on Sunday' morning. On returning the landlord invited them to have a drink before they went home, and they all wont into the hotel. There was no suggestion of any other drinking going on at the time r and there was no attempt at concealment of the party's doings, and they all partook of drink at the publican's invitation. He believed that there was a great misconception on the part of the licensees, the public, and the police as to..what was the actual meaning of the Licensing Act. A publio house was a public house for the convenience of'the public, subject only, of course, to restrictions as to the sale of liquor. Any person had a right to bo in a public house at any hour of the day or night, and_ on any day or night, provided the publican permitted him to \?e there. Any person had the right at any time of the day or night to be in a public house, and to remain there and consume liquor there, either in the bar or elsewhere, provided he was a bona fide guest of tho publican or a lodger. The public should know what their rights were in this respect, and they would thus avoid terrorism by any official. The magistrate concurred with the views expressed by Mr Cohen, and dismissed the case.