PERMITTING DRUNKENNESS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9933, 23 August 1910, Page 3

PERMITTING DRUNKENNESS.

v AN UNLUCKY LICENSEE,

William James (Mr Alpers) pleaded not guilty before Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M., to-day, to a charg© of having allowed drunkenness on his licensed premises, Storey's Hotel, on August 11. Sergeant Miller gave evidence that, with Constable Robinson, he had found in the private bar of tho hotel a man hiccoughing drunkenly. Witness had called the barmaid's attention to the man, and she had summoned tho licensee's son, who had ejected the drunken man, who had next day been fined for drunkenness.

Constable Robinson gave evidence corroborative of that given by Sergeant Miller.

Mr Alpers said that the son, a man of about forty, had been upstairs when the man had entered the hotel and had sat by the fire. The man had not been served with drink and the barmaid had taken no notice of him.

The Magistrate said that if the barmaid did not take tho trouble to look at tho man the licensee was the sufferer. Why should she not notice what the sergeant had done? Mr Alpers: The sergeant has a trained eyo for such things, your Worship. Mr Bishop: You mean probably that familiarity breeds contempt. Continuing, the Magistrate said that the question was whether the case was one for endorsement, and in this case it was not.

Evidence was given by the defendant that lie had held licenses for thirty-four years and had never had a conviction. Mr Bishop: A very satisfactory record.

Mr Alpers: This would not have happened if he had not,gone to the races. Mr Bishop: The races are going to be expensive for you this time. In reply to the Magistrate Mr Alpers said that the barmaid had been in the hotel over three years and had given every satisfaction. The Magistrate said that the caso had been conducted in a very fair manner, and in view of the excellent record of Jaines he would deal leniently with the case and fine defendant 20s and costs and would not endorse the license. • Addressing James, Mr Bishop said that he held verv strong views as to, a man nermitting drunkenness, and though in this case a man had wandered in while drunk, that fact alone was strong prima facie evid°nco tlin+ someone had shown gross netrlect. There was a clasis of persons who looked on hotels on the outskirts of the city as havens, and went into them without thought for the licensee or anvthiner h°longin<r to him. and such people must he watched and dealt with at once.