“SPECIAL DUTY” POLICE

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24570, 19 May 1945, Page 2

“SPECIAL DUTY” POLICE

EVIDENCE TO ROYAL COMMISSION

ILLEGAL TRAFFICKING IN LIQUOR (P.A.) AUCKLAND, May 18. Evidence of the work of the “special duty” section oi the Police force was given by James Leicester Adams, sergeant of police, when called by the Crown before the Royal Commission on Licensing. .Witness said that liquor was sold by “boot-leggers” in ail manner of places. Referring to black market agents, Sergeant Adams said they acquired surplus stocks of whisky held by licensed persons, their activities extending as far south as Dunedin. The “sly grog," industry was well organised, and would not give any information which might lead to the conviction of black market agents. Little was done for the social entertamment of hundreds or servicemen in, the city each night, he continued. Hotels were closed by the time servicemen arrived, and as a result they became an easy prey for the “sly-grog-ger” who was lurking about the streets and was fairly well protected by the black-out. The introduction of regulations had a steadying effect in the management of night clubs, witness said. The protits derived from the clubs were enormous, and fortunes were acquired by some of the proprietors in the course of a few years. There was a vast difference between night clubs and dance halls, in the lormer dancing being incidental to drinking. Dance Halls and Night Clubs “Dance halls are now more popular than night ciubs,” witness stated Many of the undesirable features of hotel lounges had been successfully dealt with by women police. Witness said: “I do not favour mixed cfnnking in hotel lounges by the general public. Lounges shouid be reserved for bona fide lodgers and their guests, male or female. A separate lounge should be reserved for women < iiy.” Better accommodation in hotels for the travelling public, and better racilities lor the drinking public were advocated by Sergeant Adams. “In my opinion the hours of trade should oe from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and from 7.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. or 10 p.m.,*’ ne said. R Tf the hours were extended from 6 p.m, onwards, a certain class of' drinker would linger on, and neglect of his family would result. If the hotels were closed at 6 p.m., and reopened, say, at 7.30 p.m. the drinking public could have an opportunity of going straight home from* work and returning later in the evening for liquor and refreshments if they desired.”