BANQUETTING AFTER HOURS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12588, 18 August 1910, Page 5

BANQUETTING AFTER HOURS.

AN INTERESTING CASE

(Per Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, August 17

A rrosecutiou of considerable interest "to licensees and evening banqueters who, to a certain extent, are the guests dt a hotel for purposes'of a smoke concert, dinner or other entertainment, vas heard ai> tl'.o- Magistrate's Coun> today before Mr W. G. Riddell, S.M. Marshall John Donnelly, licensee of the New Zealand Hotel, was, on the information of the police, charged that on tho Bth or August during n time at which his licensed premises were directed to be closed by.or in pursuance of the Licensing Act, he allowed liquor, although purchased before the hour of closing the hotel, to be consumed on tho premises. The facts were that on the evening of the Bth August, the Ramblers' Football Club, on the occasion of their winning; the Championship, held a dinner and smoke- concert nt the New Zealand Hotel. A quantity of beer, whisky and cordials was I iircbased in the afternoon for consumption at the dinner. Under section 190 of the Licensing Act any license© who during the. time at which licensed premises are directed to be closed, allows any liquor (even though purchased before the hour of closing) to be consumed en the premises is liable to a penalty not exceeding £10. At 10.30 i.m. Sergeant Kelly and Constable Beni.ett knocked at- the front door of the hotel, and were promptly admitted. In the dining; mom the Ramblers' Club dinner was in progress. Someone was singing as the police reached the door, and the officers saw glasses in front *3 the banqueters and several jugs of beer on the table.

Counsel for the defence submitted that the case was not one for conviction. The entertainment started at 7.30 and it was probably over soon after 10.30. All that had been proved was that liquor Mas on the table when the police entered. There were some glasses containing a. certain quantity of beer— mostly dregs—but most of the glasses had lemonade. The magistrate convicted defendant and imposed a fine of 20s and costs.