“AFTER HOURS” RAID.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16735, 17 May 1922, Page 9

“AFTER HOURS” RAID.

LICENSEE FINED £2O. CASES AT METHVEN. On the night of Saturday. April 1 after the statutory closing hour foi hotels, an unannounced visit was pair? to two Methven hotels by Senior Sergeant Jackson and Constables Ross, Fcoles. White and South worth, of the Ashburton police. As an outcome of that visit, a batch of defendants apl>earod at the Methven Magisi ra.io Q Court yesterday, before Mr. W yvern Wilson, S.M.. to answer various charges of committing breaches of the Licensing Act. Senior Sergeant Jackson oondu-cted the (prosecutions, and the defendants wore all represented by Mr. W. J. Hunter of Christchurch, and Mr J. W. Dart of Methven. James McTaggart the licensee of the Canterbury Hotel was charged on three informations, with exjK>sing liquor for sale after hours, with supplying liquor and with permitting drunkenness. After hearing the evidence, the Magistrate dismissed the charge of ?xj>osing on the grounds that the evidence was not strong enough, and dismissed tin* charge of selling liquor, without prejudice. On the charge of permitting drunkenness, he fined McTaggart £.'2o and costs. On charges of being found in the licensed premises of the Canterbury Hotel after the hour of closing, Sam Km arson was lined 10b. Joseph McDermott 20s. John Smith 2Os, and Thomas Hakopo 20s. FT. Xiehollas, tlie licensee of the Methven Hotel was then charged on five informations with selling and exposing liquor after hours. The cases were dismissed. Charges against the barman, Frank Cudden. of supplying liquor to a youth, and against I/eslie Gray, Hugh Law. W illiam Mark Leonard Church, and Harry Hayliss. of being found on the premises after hours were dismised. Iho Magistrate commented strongly on the amount-of drunkenness in Methven. Ho said that apparently no attempt had previously been made to stop it.. The Justice Department cannot always be sending men to such places from outside districts on account of the expense it involved. He complimented the Ashburton police v>ri the manner in which they had given their evidence and the way they liad conducted the raid. It was his duty, where cases were proved, to assist the police in keeping law and order. He also commented on the way the hotels F ad been filled up, ostensibly to facilitate illegal trading.