FOOTBALLERS AT HOTEL

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 4, 28 October 1924, Page 6

FOOTBALLERS AT HOTEL

SALE OF LIQUOR AFTER HOURS. Ou September L>o the Golden Bay ami Nelson representative footballers played a, match at Nelson. The Golden Bay team put up at the Royal Hotel, wheie both teams dined together. About 10 p.m. the police raided the premises, and found a< number of men in the bar. About half were bona title lodgers (footballers who were staying for the night) but the remainder 1 were illegally on the promises, and were proceeded against in the Magistrate's Court. Four were fined £1 and ai lift!) (who pleaded not gnilly) was lined £2. The licensee was also charged with exposing liquor for sale, and pleading guilty, was fined £lO. In imposing the penalty the Magistrate (Mr T. Fa Maunsell) issued a warning to hotel licensees. He said that his view of this mjattc'r was that representative football matches were looked upon by hotel licensees, or a certain projjortibu of them, a,s a means of piling up profits, and be thought it idle to deny that profit making went’on after six p.m. Counsel for defendant : This is the first occasion on which a’ dinner has been held at this hotel.

The Magistrate: I am speaking generally. My poliicy is going to be that when football matches take place in town—’or, any other function—which entices people to* congregate, then 1 am'going to impose substantial penalties on licensees who" arc caught by tliei police selling liquor after hours. It almost appears as if licensees keep open lipases. This seems to* bo one instance of how this right to servo lodgers is abused.