SLY GROG-SELLING.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1747, 30 August 1905, Page 71

SLY GROG-SELLING.

PROSECUTIONS FOR TKB-YEAR. POLICE REPORTS. ■ Police Commissioner Dinnie, in ; Lis annual report to the Minister for Justice,- presented to Parliament- last. "Wedstates: — . " " i There were 169 prosecutions during the year for sly grog-selling, resulting in 113 convictions, against 216 prosecuand 151 convictions during the preceding year. ; The-decrease (forty-seven) in the number of prosecutions against sly grogsellers does not necessarily indicated a decrease in the number of persons engaged in this deplorable and troublesome class, of offence, but rather that more secrecy is aduoted to prevent detection ; and, although special action: is taken from year to year, and frequentprosecutions are’ instituted and punishments inflicted, the result is somewhat disheartening, as it does not appear to have the desired effect in diminishing the number of; such offenders or offences. V: The difficulty experienced in former years in obtaining- evidence in these cases continues, perjury being frequently indulged in to prevent a conviction. The fines imposed on sly grog-sellers during the year 1904 amounted to £1584, against '£946 la in 1963; bub a number of those prosecuted in 1903 were sentenced to imprisonment without the option of a fine. ’ The amounts of fines in the various districts are as follows £ - Auckland ... ... ~ ... 619 NapiOr ... ... ... 30 -..Wanganui-.... ... ■ 53. . - Wellington... ... ... 25 Greymouth... ... ... 66 ” Christchurch ... .•< 434 Dunedin. ... ....... *IOO Invercargill ... ... 257 ... Total .... .. £1584 The direct cost to the-colony in detecting and prosecuting sly -grog-sellers during the year was £1365 19s 7d, this being £2lB Ots 5d less than, the amount of fines imposed.. AUCKLAND. Inspector Cullen states: —I. am pleased to he able to report that less sly grog-selling is carried on in the King Country at the present time than has been the case for many years past. NAPIER AND EAST COAST. Inspector Macdonell reports:—Eleven informations were laid - for sly grogselling, resulting in eight convictionsand three withdrawals. Fines, amount—ing to £3O were imposed. WANGANUI AND WEST COAST. Inspector Kiely reports:—Complaints of sly grog-selling have been less frequent than in the year previous, though I am inclined to believe it is still carried on to some extent. ASHBURTON DISTRICT. QUESTION IN THE HOUSE. In the House of Representatives on the 23rd, the Minister of Justice, replying to the member for Ashburton, said: —The report in the “ Lyttelton Times ” alleging, that sly grog-selling, was prevarlent at Ashburton was noted, hut the accuracy of the' statement made therein is much doubted, considering the secrecy adopted by sly grog-sellers to prevent detection after so many convictions (forty-one since- July, 1903) being recorded against them, and the constant endeavours made by police to bring; sucb offenders to justice. It is untrue and unjust to say that sly grogselling is carried on openly as alleged; and every possible step is being adopted with a view to minimise the evil. With regard to the statement that “ the winter further contends that if the police, and especially the local Stipendiary Magistrate, did bis duty, and administered the law against those charged with sly grog-selling with €he same severity as be does against the offenders against any other law, sly grog-selling would be a thing of the past,” the Minister said he was informed by the “Lyttelton Times” Commissioner that he made no such contention.