_The Evening Post_, 6 April 1925:
“CLEAR BREACH OF LAW”
MAGISTRATE’S DECISION REVERSED.
(BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.)
GREYMOUTH, 4th April.
An interesting reserved judgment was given to-day by Mr. Justice #MacGregor in the case in which the police appealed against the dismissal by the Magistrate (Mr. Meldrum) of a charge against Charlotte Lewis, licensee of a #Kumara hotel, for refusing accommodation to F. King, a #Prohibition lecturer.
Mr. Justice MacGregor stated that no valid reason was given for refusing accommodation, and the real reason seemed to be the fact that King was a Prohibition agent. That was not a valid reason in law, however distasteful the supplying of such accommodation was to the licensee. King was a member of the travelling public, and the licensee was bound to supply lodging for the night. A clear breach of the law was made, and the licensee should have been convicted. The Judge expressed surprise that the Magistrate had not convicted, as it was difficult to imagine a clearer case of refusal.
The case was remitted to the lower Court, and costs of the appeal, £10 [ca. $1200 today], were allowed to the police.
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19250406.2.110
