UNDER TWENTY-ONE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIX, Issue 1090, 26 January 1911, Page 21

UNDER TWENTY-ONE.

THE NEW LICENSING LAW.The first charge in Auckland under the amended Licensing Act, 1910, was heard at the Police Court on Friday morning, before Mr E. C. Cutten, S.M., when Peter Farquhar, licensee of the Royal George Hotel, Newmarket, was charged that on Deceml9lO, he supplied beer to Frank McGrath, a lad apparently under the age of 21 years. The prosecution was laid under section 42 of the amended Licensing Act, 1910, which provides that liquor shall not be supplied for consumpr’on on the premises, to persons apparently under the age of 21. Sub-Inspector Hendry appeared for the prosecution, and Mr J. R. Reed for the defendant, who pleaded not guilty. The lad’s age, over 17 years, was not questioned. Sergeant Dale, of the Newmarket police station, stated that on the evening of December 6, he had seen two young men, McGrath and Dethmer, close to the hotel, under the influence of liquor. He had questioned Dethmer, who stated that McGrath and he had been supplied with bee" at the Royal George Hotel. He then interviewed Mr Farquhar, who said he had not supplied McGrath and Dethmer with liquor. Dethmer was over 2.1 years of age, but McGrath was not. George Dethmer stated that on the night of December 6 he was in company with McGrath. Both of them had been drinking in the afternoon. Between eight p.m. and nine p.m., they were in the Royal George Hotel. They ordered two half-shandies, but they were not served, and were requested to leave. He was muddled when he made a statement to the police that they had been supplied with beer at the hotel. He would swear definitely that they did not receive any liquor at the hotel on the night in question. Sub-Inspector .Hendry stated that in view of Dethmer’s change of front, he was unable to go further with the case, and would not call the other youth to give evidence. His Worship consequently dismissed the case.