AFTER HOURS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20108, 29 March 1928, Page 7

AFTER HOURS

CONSTABLES IN HOTEL A REASONABLE EXPLANATION. [ Pit Press Association. ] HAMILTON, March 23. Two constables named Arnold Sydney Wade and Arthur Cyril Shilton were charged at the Court this morning with being on licensed premises after hours. It was shown that tho constables met Mr Northcroft, a well-known Auckland solicitor, in the main street of Hamilton about six o’clock. Wade had private business to discuss with Nir Northcroft, who invited both into his private sitting-room at his hotel to talk it over. This was five minutes after closing time. Both constables were in plain clothes, and they were invited by Mr Northcroft to have a drink. Three beers were ordered and paid for by Mr Northcroft. They were seen by another constable to enter and a memo was sent to them by their superior officer in which the constables admitted being on the premises and having had a drink* The Magistrate, Nir Platts, said that in the case of Wade he had desired to discuss business with Mr Northcroft, which was borne out by Mr Northcroft, and his Worship accepted the explanation. The case against Wade was dismissed. With regard to Shilton, he entered merely for the purpose of having a drink, and this was in contravention of the Act. Shilton was convicted and fined £2.