A BREWERY BUSINESS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 198, 22 August 1928, Page 9

A BREWERY BUSINESS.

PUBLIC TRUST CIRCULAR. ISSUED TO OFFICERS. ATTACKED BY SIR ROBERT STOUT. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. In the Legislative Council this afternoon Sir Robert Stout raised the question of the relation of the Public Trustee to the brewery business of the McCarthy Trust, in the following questions: *'(1) Whether the Minister in charge of the Public Trust Department has considered the probable effect on citizens of New Zealand who are total abstainers from alcohol, and conscientious opponents of the law that allows the sale or use of such liquors in the Dominion, and who may be anxious to place their estates under Public Trustee management and their children under the guardianship of the Public Trustee, the Public Trustee having become a brewer, a vendor of intoxicating liquors and an encourager of their use; and (2) has the advertisement of the Public Trustee regarding the sale of the McCarthy Brewery products been brought to his notice ?"

Sir Robert proceeded to read a circular issued by the Public Trustee warning officers of the Department against taking an active, prominent part in the activities of any body associated with the licensing question. The Hon. J. Barr interrupted with the objection that Sir Robert was going too much into detail at this stage, and his objection was upheld by the Speaker. Sir Robert said it was necessary for him to make his object clear, but the Speaker insisted he was out of order, and Sir Robert said he would not put his question. At a later stage Sir Robert Stout gave notice to ask whether a circular has been issued with the sanction of the Minister in charge of the Public Trust Office to all officers drawing attention to Public Service Regulation 32, licensing question, and stating: (1) In view of the position which the licensing question occupied in political affairs, it was inadvisable that officers of the Department should take a prominent part in the activities of any body associated with the question; (2) a member of the public service taking a prominent part in the matter might be placed in an awkward position with the Government to the embarrassment of the Department; (3) prospective clients, too, of this office might object to place their estates in this office for administration by officers holding extreme views opnosed to their own; (4) officers of this Department will therefore refrain from •aking a prominent, active part in the en sin? question either on behalf of the =hJc, the New Zealand Alliance, or anv her bodv.