SERIOUS CHARGES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 915, 19 September 1907, Page 21

SERIOUS CHARGES.

At Christchurch last Friday the ad. journed hearing of the objections by the police to the renewal of the license of the Criterion Hotel was held before the Christchurch Licensing Committee. The information was laid under sec. t on 76, sub-section 3, of the Licensing

Ac. of 1881, as follows:—“It .shall be lawful for the Licensing Committee al any quarterly licensing meeting to deter, minate and put an end to any license then current, if it shall be proved to their satis-

faction that the licensed house is conducted n an improper manner, or that the holder of such license is openly and repeatedly intoxicated, or that any conditions upon which the license was granted

have not been fulfilled in a satisfactory manner. ” .The .alleged misconduct of the house occurred during six or seven months, roughly coinciding* with the -period of the Kxhibitinn. The main allegation was that the house had six or seven barmaids, who were used - to incite people to drink to excess, and who were “shouted” for by customers,'and were frequently intoxicated. The customers, it was alleged, were pressed to “shout” champagne for the girls.. A large quantity of very contradictory evidence was given, and the case was adjourned ti'.l yes.erday afternoon, in order that' the licensee, who could not attend through illness, might be present.