LICENSED PREMISES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 3, 19 August 1911, Page 4

LICENSED PREMISES.

SETTER DEFINITION WANTED. Dolor Rowland Savage, a prohibited person, appeared at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday-morning on a charge of having on August sth entered licensed premises during the currency of a prohobition order against him. He pleaded not guilty. Constable Mackintosh gave evidence that on tiro day in question lie wont into tiro backyard of the Club Hotel. Defendant was there, and said ho had gone in to get his horse from the. stables. The stables were sub-let and were not divided from the hotel premises by a fence. The defendant said lie always put iris horse in the Club Hotel stables, and did not know it was wrong. Sergeant McNeeley: 1 have brought tiro case to define tire position. The S.M. said the case brought up a matter which had been fully discussed at the annual meeting of the Licensing Committee. It was desirable that there should bo some fencing which would clearly indicate the exact boundaries of licensed premises. He did not doubt that the present case was bona fide, but if nothing was done those who desired to break the law could hang round in tire backyard and excuse themselves by stating that they were there for the purpose of getting their horses. He thought the Court would have to warn licensees that fencing would bo

accessary. He could not in the circumstances treat the yard as other than licensed premises, but lie did not desire to he harsh on prohibited people who wont bona lido to put up their horses. While the present position continues every prohibited person who went to hotel stables would have to recognise that he was running the risk of prosecution, whether or not they wont to the hotel for the purpose of getting liquor. It would fie quite easy for prohibited persons to use stables not connected with hotels.

Sergt. McNeoly said there was no suggestion that defendant had been served with liquor. The S.M. said that people using the stables after the closing of the hotel would also be liable to prosecution for being on licensed premises after hours. The difficulty could bo got over by fencing. There had undoubtedly been a breach in this case, but as it was the first case of the kind tho information would be dismissed, but this course would not be followed in future cases.