The Barmouth and County Advertiser and District Weekly News

BARMOUTH POLICE COURT SHORTER HOURS FOR PUBLIC HOUSES. BREACH OF THE BREAD ACT. A WARNING TO SHOP- KEEPERS. The monthly petty sessions were held on Friday last before H, J. Wright, Esq. (chairman); Alderman T. Martin Williams, Tbos.W. Piggott,Cadwaladr Roberts and J. Pryce Jones, Esqrs. Curtailment of Hours in I Public Houses. The Chief Constable (Mr Richard Jones) said that the Bench were well aware that power bad been given the Justices to reduce the hours of public houses under the Intoxicating Act,1914, if that was thought fit, and if any, troops were located in any particular district. A short time ago he was approached with a view of curtailing the hours of public houses where there were no troops nor increased drunken- ness, and he wrote to the Home Office applying for the guidance of the Secretary of State respecting the power of putting the Intoxicating Liquor (Tem- porary Restriction) Act, 1914, into operation, when the conditions men- tioned in the circular letter of the Home Office, dated September 4tb, 1914, were not present, viz, that there were no soldiers it the division, nor an increase of drunkenness." There were three Petty Sessional Divisions in this county where they had some soldiers stationed, and the Act had been put into opera- tion. In three other Petty Sessional Divisions they bad no troops and no increase of drunkenness, and in those circumstances be was anxious to know whether be would be justified in apply- ing to the Justices to curtail the hours of sale. In reply to that communica- tion, the Home Office stated that with reference to the subject of the Intoxi- cating Liquor (Temporary Restriction) Act, 1914, the Secretary of State had received from the War Office and other sources strong representations as to the difficulty arising from want of infor- mation as regards action taken under the Temporary Restriction Act between different divisions in the County or of adjoining divisions of different counties, and be (the Secretary of State) thought that on this ground he would be fully justified in making recommendations to the Justices of the three divisions in which no orders had yet been made. The Chief Constable added that at | Blaenau Festiniog, Towyn and Bala divisions the public houses closed at 9 p.m., and bad been the case for some months. He applied to the Magistrates for a curtailment of hours in the Bar- mouth division, and that all the public houses should be closed at 9 p.m., but that inmates, lodgers and bonafide travellers staying at the hotels should be excluded. The curtailment to come into force from the 1st October next. He was going to make a similar application for the Corwen and Dol- gelley divisions, so therefore the whole county would be on the same lines. The Chairman—The application is not made owing to excessive drinking, The Chief Constable—Not at all; only that the whole county should come into conformity. He bad invited all the licencees to be present if they wished to. The Chairman-Are there any licen- cees present who would like to make any statement or ask any questions. Mr Alfred Onions, one of the licencees present, asked why should they close at 9 p.m. in Barmouth where there were no troops or munition works,whilst in other large towns they kept open, The Chief Constable-Where are ] those places. Mr Onions—They are kept open at Stockport. The Chief Constable said that could not be so as the whole of Lancashire was under the Munitions Acl. The Chairman—What hou;e does this licence represent ? Mr Unions- The Last Inn. The Chief Constable sa' J he was I granted a temporary transfer a short time ago. Mr A. Dudley, Barmouth Hotel, asked whether they would be allowed to serve visitors staying at the hotel. The Chairman said the curtailment would not affect inmates, bonafide travellers or visitors staying at any public house. The Chairman said that the Bench were unaqimous that the arplication of the Chief Constable should be granted and to come into force on October 1st. Not Producing his Motors I Licence. W. H. Denbam, 5, Northwood Street, Manchester, was charged by Inspector Ben Evans with having failed to pro- duce his motor licence whilst, driving his car on the Marine Parade on the 13th September. The defendant did not appear but bad sent a letter in which he stated that owing to pressure of business he could not attend the Court that day. He bad a licence, and same was enclosed in the letter, but bad forgotten to take it from the other clothes he had at home when leaving for a short holiday at Bar- mouth. The Chairman asked were there any endorsements on his licence- The, Clerk -No, it is a clean licence. The Chairman said he had driven a motor car for seventeen years and no one bad asked to see his licence. Inspector Ben Evans said the defendant failed to produce his licence when asked and admitted that be bad left his licence in another coat at home. The Chairman said that was a vety easy thing to do. The Chief Constable said it was a serious offence not to have a licence and the Police bad to carry out the law in asking motorists to produce their licences at intervals. Of course, they were not strict with bonafide motorists who were well known to them, but it was different with strangers who visited different towns. The Chairman said the defendant bad taken out a licence, and same bad been enclosed in bis lecter, which bad been read by the Clerk. Inspector Ben Evans stated that the defendant failed to produce his licence on the day in question. The Chief Constable stated that the defendant would have to produce his licence in Court to prove that be bad one on the day in question, although be failed to produce it then. Inspector Ben Evans further stated that in consequence of a complaint received that someone was signalling out to sea on the Promenadp srom a motor car, he went down to the Parade, and saw a motor car standing in front of Marine Mansions. The car bad no lights on, and the only occupant was a lady. He then enquired for the owner of the car, and on being asked to produce his licence be said that he had left it at home. In reply to the Chairman, the Chief Constable stated that the motor car was not a Red Cross car, but be understood that it bad been doing some Red Cross work. The Chairman said the Bench con- sidered that the Police were perfectly right in bringing the case forward, and the defendant would be fined 13s. Breach of the Bread Act. I Inspector Ben Evans charged Lewis 0. Evans, Baker and Grocer, County Stores, Barmouth, with having sold bread otherwise than by weight to P.C. I Williams on September 13th. In reply to the charge the defendant said the bread was weighed, and pleaded not guilty. Police Constable Griffith Williams stated that on Monday, Sept. 13th, he called at the defendant's shop and asked for a 21b loaf of bread. Defendant replied he bad no 21b loaf Qnly a 3id loaf, but said he could provide him with a 21b loaf unless the 3td loaf would do. He (the Constable) said he would take the 3^d loaf, and the defendant handed him the loaf without weighing it, and 3d was paid for same. He then asked the defendant to weigh tbe loaf in bis presence, and it weighed lib lOoz. He then charged tbe defendant with selling bread otherwise than by weight. The defendant said after the Con- stable bad asked him to weigh the loaf he did so. The Chief Canstable said that the loaf should have been weighed in the first instance. The Chairman asked whether any notices bad been issued informing the public of the Act. The Chief Constable-Yes; through- out the county. Alderman T. Martin Williams asked was it at tbe Chief Constable's own request that the warnings were issued thoughout the county. The Chief Constable said it was the Merioneth County Council who asked him to issue the appeal on behalf of the Local Government Board. He had issued notices throughout the whole county, drawing the attentian of all bakers and others that bread would have to be sold by weight only, whether delivered in a shop or at the premises of the purchaser. Any seller who sold bread otherwise than by weight was liable to a penalty of two pounds. The defendant said that when the Constable asked for a 21b loaf he told him be would do one up for him. The notices issued a,sked that the loaf should be weighed, and be had done so. The Chief Constable stated that any seller of bread who refused to weigh bread when requested by a purchaser was liable to a penalty of five pounds. The defendant said he had weighed the bread. In reply to the Chief Constable, P.C. Griffith Williams stated that the de- fendant weighed the bread after the purchase had taken place, and at his (the constable's) request. The Chief Constable said be did not wish to do any barm to the defendant at all, but bread must be sold by weight only. The defendant said be bad weighed tbe bread. The Chief Constable said be was not pressing the case, only that it should serve as a warning to others. He bad twelve similar cases pending in different parts of the county. The Chairman asked what about those who sold bread in vans and going about the villages without weights. The Chief Constable said that all vans should have weights upon them, and the owners were liable to be pro- rsecuted. tle had three similar cases pending in the county. The deferdant said- his van carried weights, but the bread was not always weighed in it. The Clerk said the bread must be weighed at all times. The defendant said that when asked tbe bread was weighed. The Clerk said the bread ought to be weighed in tbe presence of the customer. The defendant said the loaf bad been weighed. lb P.C. Williams stated that tbe loaf was weighed at his request. The Chairman said customers were at fault in asking for a 3d loaf, instead of a 21b loaf. The defendant-But this loaf was weighed. The Chairman—But it was not weighed in the presence of the buyer. The Chief Constable said the defend- ant was charged for selling bread other- wise than by weight. The Chairman said that few years ago similar proceedings were taken out throughout the whole county, and he was sorry to see that they were coming back to the same thing after those years. The defendant-But the charges then were different. The Chairman-No they were all the same kind as this one. The Bench imposed a fine of 10/ Drunkenness. P C. Griffith Williams charged Frederick Wellesby, Fronoleu Farm, Llanaber, with having been drunk on the Marine Parade on September 8th. In reply; to the Chairman, Idspector Ben Evans stated that the defendant bad been staying in the town for over eighteen months, and this was his first offence. The defendant stated that he had never been summoned before. A fine of 5/- was imposed. Indecent Language. Richard Griffith, Moelfre Terracp, Llanbedr, wks charged by P.C. Morgan Jonps (Dyffryn) with baving used in- decent language at the village of Llan- bedr Defendant did not appear, and the Bench issued a warrant for his attend- ance. Children's Court. At a children's court before H. J. Wright, Esq. (chairman) and other magistrates, four boys named Andrew O'Mara, Bronaber Terrace; John and Glyn Roberts, Water Street; and Thomas Robinson, Beonar Terrace,were charged by Inspector Ben Evans with having stolen sweets and chocolates, valued at 5s., from the shop belonging to Miss Alice Gyngell, The Arches, on September 11th. The parents of the boys O'Mara and Robinson were present in Court. Inspector Ben Evans,who prosecuted, stated that the boys were charged with breaking the shop window of Miss Gyngell, Belle Vue Arches, and stealing sweets and chocolates, on the morning of September 11th. The first three named boys bad also entered the St. John's Church Hall and had tampered with the gas meter. In reply to the Chairman, Inspector Ben Evans stated that the three first named boys were before the magis- trates about three weeks ago, and were then birched for three different offences committed. P.O. Griffith Williams stated that at 9-15 a.m. on Saturday, the 11th inst., Miss Gyngell, No. 2, The Arches, reported to him that her lock- up shop had been broken into, and that sweets and chocolates bad been stolen there- from. On making enquiries he found out that the four boys, Thomas Robin- son, Bennar Terrace, aged 9A Andrew O'Mara, Bronaber Terrace, aged 10!; Jack Roberts, Water Street, aged lOt and Glyn Roberts, Water Street, aged 2 9 had been seen breaking tbp window at 5-30 a m. on that date. Later he inter- viewed the four boys,who when charged and cautioned, admitted breaking the window and stealing sweets and chocol- ates. He may also state that these four boys were sleeping out on Friday night in question in a teat pitched in front of Minfor, and that they had stolen two loaves of bread from the Mona Hotel. The Chairman said that if the parents of these young children bad acted as parents should do, the children ought to be in bed instead of being out all night doing mischief. They ought to be ashamed of themselves. The parents ought to be birched, and not the children. The magistrates ordered that the boy Robinson should receive four strokes with the birch, whilst O'Mara, Jack Roberts and Glyn Roberts should receive six strokes. The Chairman severely reprimanded the parents, and appealed to tnem to see that their children were indoors before nine at night.