MONEY AND POLITICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19762, 8 October 1927, Page 11

MONEY AND POLITICS.

GRAVE CHARGES MADE. AMENDING LIQUOR LAW. "UP TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER." A. and N.Z. SYDNEY. Oct. 7. At a meeting of the Wine and Spirit Grocers' Defence Association, serious allegations were mado by the chairman, Mr. R. Roney, in connection with the securing of amendments to the Liquor Act. He said some months ago members of the association, of whom there were 235, wero asked to subscribe £25 each, for the purpose of establishing a fighting fund to obtain an amendment of the Liquor Act, which would allow grocers to sell wine and spirits by the single bottle instead of in minimum quantities of two gallons as at present. Later, he saw several Cabinet Ministers and was told to keep quiet, so as not to cause newspaper controversy. They said what the grocers wanted would be introduced in Parliament. Subsequently he received an urgent message to attend Parliament House. He did so, and was shown the proposed bill, but he intimated he was not satisfied. Then the brewers, afraid that the single-bottle sales would injure hotelkeepers, came on the scene, and when he complained to a prominent Labour man of the treatment, the latter declared : "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 the money, on the ground that it was not used as intended. Mr. Roney said surely they did not want to be told how the mon£y, which had been subscribed for political purposes, had been spent. If the Government had been honourable they would have got the Act amended. He had been told this had not been done 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 about its passing. 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. FULL INQUIRY SOUGHT. REQUEST FOR COMMISSION. (Received October 7. 8.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z. SYDNEY, Oct 7. Following his allegations in connection with the Liquor Act Mr. Roney states he intends to ask for a Royal Commission to inquire into the whole question of the passing of the Liquor Amendment Act. Ho says 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.