U.S. BANK HOLIDAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 99, 29 April 1933, Page 10

U.S. BANK HOLIDAY.

UNCONCERNED BOOTLEGGERS

DRINK TRADE NOT AFFECTED.

NEW YORK, March 25.

New York bootleggers, adept at high finance, fell er.sily into the ways of the enforced bank holiday, and with the exception of occasional fluctuations and mishaps normal to their profession seem to have had the "alcoholic situation" well in hand. Not one of the thousands of speak-easies has been reported closed, for financial reasons, and the men who run them apparently have as much ready money as ever.

The "regular" found his credit good at the neighbouring speak-easy. The casual customer at the bar needed no apologies when he whispered to the proprietor. "Put it on the cull" was the watchword, and when a patron had concluded his purchases the amount went down in "the book," where now appear names never before written there. Cheques were taboo, "because, they're no good."

There was no tendency to "stock up," according to the "private bootleggers," who deliver goods by the bottle or case to their eutomers. This clientele usually orders in quantities, and it was pointed out that not enough time had elapsed for an accurate survey. There had been a falling-off in small orders to clubs arid hotels, however. The cheques of customers of standing were as good as always, it was eaid, but those of strangers were worthless. The stranger in town with a thirst was in an unhappy mood unless he had cash. He would not get credit at the speak-easies, and his chrques were not honoured by the night clubs or bootleggers.

The linoncial status of the latter can best be summed up by an incident which occurred in a large banking house recently. A well-known bootlegger,, known to numerous officials, wandered into a bank, and his erstwhile clients, thinking he \va« out for business,- pleaded poverty.

"I know all about that," said the bootlegger. "I just dropped in to see if you needed any ready cash or wanted spme bills changed. I do not keep any bank accounts." — (X.A.N. A.)