DECISION RESERVED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 164, 13 July 1945, Page 3

DECISION RESERVED

APPEAL COURT CASE

PARTY FUNDS QUESTION

PA. WELLINGTON, Thursday. The Court of Appeal to-day reserved its decision, in connection with the special case stated by the Royal Commission on Licensing inquiring as to the extent, if any, to which questions relating to contributions to political funds by persons or organisations connected with the licensed trade might be asked by the commission. In his final submissions on behalf of the New Zealand Alliance, Mr. R. Hardie Boys .said the licensed trade had given evidence of its conduct in public benefactions, etc.. and the commission was entitled to ask if part of its funds' had been expended in maintaining continuance of the law that hept them wealthy.

The Chief Justice: These matters have nothing to do with the questions before the Court.

Mr. P. B. Cooke, K.C., in reply for the National Council of Licensed Trades, said that, assuming the warrant to be wholly valid, on any proper view as to the meaning o£ the warrant the questions in dispute were irrelevant. That was the paramount submission made. Submissions of law relating to private affairs and conduct required consideration only if the Court were to hold the questions relevant. The warrant .here did not purport to authorise the commission to inquire into the conduct or affairs of private individuals or companies and no reply had been made to their submissions in that respect.