ANOTHER "LIBERAL" MARES NEST.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14916, 14 March 1914, Page 11

ANOTHER "LIBERAL" MARES NEST.

EXPOSED BY MR FISHER

(SFECLUi TO "TUB PHESS.")

WELLINGTON, March 13

A statement was mado to your representative to-day by the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher regarding the mis-statements made recently at Kaiapoi by Mr Witty, about the alleged issue of tobacco and cigarettes to the special constables at the expense of the Government.

The facts of the case as stated by Mr Fisher are as follow:—On 14th November last the British Empire Trading Company made application to deliver, without payment of duty, a supply of tobacco and cigarettes which they were giving to the force of mounted special constables then stationed at Mt. Cook. The company stated that th© tobacco was presented to show their appreciation of the way the special constables had come to the assistance of the merchants in Wellington. The only way in which th© company's request could be granted was by means of a vote on the Estimates. This course was approved, and the item appeared on the Supplementary Estimates for 1913-14, page 29, and was passed by Parliament. The item was shown in the Estimates thus:—"Refund of duty on tobacco and cigarettes distributed free of charee among mounted special constables, Wellington." The details of the goods delivered, and the amount of duty remitted, are as. under:—-501b Velvet tobacco in 1 2-3-d oz tins, amount of duty, £8 15s: 20.000 OM Judge cigarettes, £17 10s: total, £26 ss.