SPORTSMEN’S DINNER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19347, 29 June 1925, Page 9

SPORTSMEN’S DINNER

SEQUEL IN COURT (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, June 2G. An “item” which did not appear on the menu of the Auckland Sportsmen’s Association dinner at Hotel Cargen on the evening of June 4 was “served” in the Police Court this morning, when the licensee of the hotel appeared to answer charges of selling liquor after hours, and also with allowing liquor to be consumed on the premises. Mr P. Finlay appeared for the defendant, Robert Chesney, who pleaded guilty to both charges.

Sub-Inspector Rawle said the prose cution was the result of a dinner held under the auspices of the Auckland Sportsmen’s Association at Hotel Cargen on the night of June 4 last, between the hours of 7 p.m. and midnight, each guest being admitted by a ticket costing £2 2s. On June 3 application was made to the Licensing Committee under Section 164 of the Licensing Act, 190 S, to have the dining room set apart for the function, but this was not granted. It would be proved that the dinner was held, that 67 guests participated, that whisky was being consumed at 8.10 p.m., and that a cheque signed by W. Ryan, with the amount not filled in, was handl'd to the defendant, who, following its being ascertained what portion of liquor sent into the dining room for the dinner had been consumed, stated that ho wouhl fill in the amount of the cheque. This had not been done up to the evening of June 5. “This case is in itself a small tragedy,” said Mr Finlay, in addressing the Magistrate, Mr Poynton. “The police were advised of what would bo done, and the opinions of two prominent counsels obtained. I regret I wa< not one of them. (Laughter). An attempt had been made to create a test case by an organised body representative of Licensed Victuallers and clubs interested all over New Zealand, but owing to a little slip this cannot be taken as a test case. Hitherto, the practice has been to get from a licensing committee the exclusive use of a room. By means of this expedient, many august bodies, including the Law Society itself, have entertained eminent judges, real and to be, and prominent magistrates of this city. The chairman of the Licensing Committee found that when the application was made in this case there was no authority to grant such :> liberty, and consequently if these? dinners arc to be held :.n clubs and hotels some real authoritv will have to be sought enabling the service to be, rendered. There were some of the most illustrous people of the town at this dinner, your Worship, and I will ask you to treat the penalty as one C';nirnensuiato with a penalty in a test concluded Mr Finlay. Mr Poyrton:—This is altogether deferent from the usual licca/ng ca-« . a- the opinions of two eminent counsel were obtained and acted upon. It is not an ordinary case where the Licensing Act has been deliberately broken. On one information defendant will be convicted and ordered to pay costs, and the other will be dismissed under Section 92 of the Justices of the Pe.tce Act.