“MEN ON WATCH”

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20235, 20 February 1934, Page 8

“MEN ON WATCH”

Police Allegation in Licensing Case. MAGISTRATE’S COMMENT. The allegation that there were certain hotels in Christchurch which kept men on watch at the front entrance to guard against surprise visits by the police was made by Sub-Inspector G. B. Edwards in the Magistrate’s Court this morning. The case was one in which Alfred David Nickolls, licensee of the Zetland Hotel, was charged with opening the premises for the sale of liquor after hours. Clarence Ward, a barman, was charged with serving liquor after hours. Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., heard the case. Sub-Inspector Edwards represented the police, and Mr Sargent appeared for the defendants. Pleas of guilty were entered. Sub-Inspector Edwards said that on the night in question Sergeant Harrison had visited the hotel at 9.35 p.m. As he approached the hotel he saw a man at the front entrance keeping watch. They had gone to the back entrance, and on entering found six men standing up at a bar counter in a room. The sub-inspector said that there were some hotels in Christchurch which had a man on watch, and this was one of them. Some of them had been spoken to and challenged. The Magistrate said it was a hal'd thing to prove, but if a man were brought to Court and charged with aiding and abetting, a conviction might be obtained. Mr Sargent said that for some time the rent of the hotel in question had been particularly heavy. Trade had fallen away, and the present occupier would be ieaving it within a few weeks, lie asked the Magistrate to take into consideration the poor business being done at the hotel when framing his penalty. The Magistrate said it was a deliberate breach of the Act. Nickolls was fined £6 and costs and Ward £3 and costs.