LIQUOR LAW

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 12, 8 October 1927, Page 11

LIQUOR LAW

“AMENDMENT FOR SALE TO HIGHEST BIDDER” SERIOUS CHARGES AGAINST NEW SOUTH WALES LEGISLATORS BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION. (Copyright.) Sydney, October 7. At a meeting of the Wine and Spirit Grocers’ Defence Association serious allegations were made by the chairman, Dlr. R. Roney, in connection with securing amendments to the Liquor Act. He stated that some months ago the members of the association, of whom there were 235, were asked to subscribe £25 each for the purpose of establishing a fighting fund to obtain an amendment to the Liquor Act which would allow grocers to sell wine and spirits by the single bottle, instead of minimum quantities of two gallons, as at present. Later, he saw several Ministers, and was told to keep quiet so as not to cause a newspaper controversy, and what they wanted would be introduced into Parliament. Subsequently he received an urgent to attend Parliament House.” He attended and was shown the proposed Bill, but he intimated that he was not satisfied. Then the brewers, afraid that single bottle sales would injure the hotelkeepers, got on the scene, and when he complained to a prominent Labour man of the treatment, the latter declared that if somebody was getting £50,000 or £60,000 and “you got an amended Act, it would be cheap for the grocers at the price.” Some of those present.at the meeting demanded the return of their money on the ground that the money was not used as intended.

Mr. Roney, in reply to questions, said that surely they did not want to be told how the money, which had been subscribed for political means, had been spent. If the Government had been honourable, it would have got the Act amended. He had been told that the Government did not do so because they did not pay for it. If they had paid the money over before the Bill went before the House there would have been no doubt the Bill would have passed. In fact, the amendment was up for sale to the highest bidder. It was decided to call a further special meeting to discuss the question. TO ASK FOR COMMISSION OF INQUIRY

(Rcc. October 7, -<4 5 p.m.) I Sydney, October 7. Following the allegations in connection with the Liquor Bill, Dlr. Roney says that he intends to ask for a Royal Commission to inquire into the whole question of passing the Liquor Amendment Act. He adds that his association did not secure the amendment it sought because it was outbid by other, interests, coupled with the fact’that it would not pay in advance.