A RAID.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, 19 June 1925, Page 9

A RAID.

AFTER HOURS TRADING. As a result of a raid by the police, P. McDonald, the licensee of the Saltwater Creek Hotel, appeared before the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning to answer four charges of supplying liquor after hours, one charge of .exposing liquor for sale at a prohibited time, and another charge of keeping his premises open after closing time. Defendant pleaded guilty, and was represented by Mr W.' Raymond. Senior Sergeant Fahey said that on Juno 6 Sergeant Peterson went to defendant’s hotel and found the front door open. Ho entered the. premises, and hearing noises in the private bar, tried the door, but found it locked. Hearing the handle of the door turning. defendant pushed up a slide and looked out. Ho then opened the door, and in the bar were six men, two proving to bo boarders and four visitors. On tho counter were seven glasses and some bottles of stout. _ Defendant would only bo charged with exposing liquor for sale, and for keeping his premises open at a time when they should b© shut. . . Mr Uaymond said his client admitted tho offences. On the day in question a friend of his had gone to Christchurch with ono of the boarders, and Mr McDonald had given him money to invest on the totnlisator. He was expecting him hack that evening, and had been waiting for his return. Counsel hero stressed defendant’s character, and tho manner in which he had conducted his hotel. He submitted that there was a. difference between a. conviction . arising out of a charge involving a servant and one in which the licensee- was involved. Mr Raymond explained at length defendant’s financial position, asking His Worship to take a lenient view of the caso. His Worship said ho noticed that tho offence occurred three days after the annual meeting of the Timnru Tncersing Committee, at which meeting ho had had a heart to heart talk with hotel-keepers on tho question of serving after hours. Only a few days before that he had visited defendant’s hotel, and had been impressed with the manner in which the place was conducted. It certainly appeared as though defendant was setting the law at defiance. Tt was regrettable that such a state of .affairs should be allowed to go on. His 'Worship warned defendant that if lie came before him again he would endorse his license. On the charge of exposing liquor for sale, defendant was fined and costs, and on the other charges was convicted and ordered to pay costs. ON LICENSED PEEMTfW.S. For being on licensed premises, four men were on eh fined £2 and costs. His Worship, commenting on the eases, said it was the dutv of the r-itr/ens not. 1.0 tempt the hotel-keepers to break the law. Tu his onininn. it was a, groat rdfv that tho penalty imposed by legislation was not more severe.