LIQUOR IN CAFE

Southland Times, Issue 25312, 15 June 1935, Page 8

LIQUOR IN CAFE

PROPRIETOR FINED. APPEAL FOR REMISSION. (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, June 14. “The penalty is out of all proportion to the offence in this case. This is one of the dangers of the legislature in fixing the minimum penalty, said the Magistrate, Mr Luxford, in imposing £2O, the minimum fine, on George Kathistideo, proprietor of the Blue Bird Cafe for permitting liquor to be drunk in a cafe at a time in which licensed premises are required to be closed. ..... j Entering a plea of guilty for defendant, counsel stated that defendant was a Greek, who according to the custom, in his own country, always drank wine with his breakfast. At about eight a.m. on the Sunday in question he and a friend Green were having breakfast together m the restaurant which was closed to the public and defendant had committed the offence by giving Green a drink of his wine. Defendant had not offended against the spirit of the Act. Mr Luxford said defendant had a previous conviction for the same offence and he was bound by law to be fined the minimum of £2O. He was allowed a month to pay the fine so that in the meantime counsel could apply to the Minister of Justice for a remission of part of the penalty. Green pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay costs 10/- for having consumed liquor on premises after-hours.