LICENSING LAW

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6660, 6 November 1908, Page 7

LICENSING LAW

■ROYAL COMMISSION ASKED FOIL DISCLOSURES FORECASTED. (SpeCA ■ ' Timds.’o ACfM.A-'ID, -NovtanbiM- •>. \t tho mealing lioW ln«fc, flight "|, foiincction with tho '■ i lirihcry in administration of licouHin;:; .atvs,. ; U«> clmiFraa.ii, Air J. O.’ Macky, f-:uid he wished to make it clear that the meeting was not one of Prohibitionists (hear, hear), and it was not » mooting ol the No-Lieenso Party. U was a gathering of citizens of Anc,.liuid, and they were interested in tho c!ean^...rii'litcc/iis/and just admin nitration;. ..ijik .laws. (Applause.) Tho im:eth%' consider ivliotiioj' it /should no? ;vl: for a Royal Columnsohm to inquire into the alienations. Mr K. (i. ]!. Moss, who was received with prolonged applause, said that three weeks ago, in answer to a challenge, ho produced certain documents and a 'statutory declaration from an ox-hotelkeeper, a man he had known for twenty years. That declaration stated that there were three items of ilh'OO and one of CIO!), or L7OO in all, which wore alleged to have been paid ns a bribe, to get tho consent of certain members of Licensing Committees Vo the removal of a license. '‘As a result of the investigations of myself and friends,'’ said Mr Moss, "we collected evidence which will incriminate, besides a number of minor officials, eleven Justices of the Peace, two returning officers, and two Resident Magistrates.” (Loud Applause.) Mr Moss then moved a motion to the effect that the allegations made wore nf such a nature as to cause serious doubts regarding the proper and honest administration of tho licensing laws and to call for full inquiry, and that a petition bo presented to his Excellency the Governor praying for the appointment of a Royal Commission, to bo presided over, it possible, by the highest judicial authority in the Dominion, for the purpose of making an exhaustive inquiry into tho facts connected with the declaration rnado by Maurice Groggan Power, and with any other ca«os bearing upon tho taking of local option polls and the election and conduct of Licensing Committees or any member of such. Mr Moss wont on to -say that ho understood that tho petition had been prepared and ho asked tho chairman to take it to every candidate who was seeking election, and ask them to sign it, and lot tho Auckland Ministers of tho Crown be asked in their capacity as candidates, not as Ministers, to sign it. Ho also suggested that it should be taken to Sir John Logan Campbell, the father of Auckland, to tho head of tho firm which boars tho name of ono of Auckland’s most honoured pioneers, ,niul to his Worship tho Mayor, and that tho .Prime Minister, who would ho hero in two or throe days, should bo asked to help them to get tho-inquiry. Dr Bedford seconded tho motion, and .said it must appeal to all on tho broad platform of good citizenship. It was fair to tho accuser that, ho should got au opportunity of proving tho truth of his statement, ami it was just to tho accused that they should have tho opportunity of clearing their characters. Mr L. L. Loedy supported the motion which, on being put to tho meeting. was carried unanimously. Mr W. H. Lyon then read the following edition: — “To his Excellency, tho Right Hon. William Loo, Baron Plunkct, .K.C.M.0., Governor of the Dominion of New Zealand, tho humblo petition of tho inhabitants of tho provincial district of Auckland in public mooting ossoaillctJ shawoth; — (1) That for several years past much uneasiness has existed in tho_ minds of many people of tho provincial District of Auckland consequent upon rumours of corruption and improper practices connected with tho administration of our licensing laws. (3) That this feeling has boon intensified by disclosures recently made in Auckland city so that the allegations made have assumed tho proportions of n Dominion scandal which cannot bo eot aside without a proper inquiry. Yo ir petitioners. therefore humbly ‘pray that your _ Excellency may be pleased to appoint a Royal Comm isfeion, under tho presidency of the highest legal authority, for tho purpose of inquiring into tho truth or otherwise of these allegations, and your petitioners as in duty bound will over pray, etc.” Mr Lyon then moved. That tho chairman be authorised to sign tho petition on behalf of the meeting and to, in company with the movers and seconders, convey the resolutions passed at the meeting to tho Right Hon. tho Prime Minister, with a request that tho Government recommend the prayer of tho petition to tho Governor. Air Trounsou seconded the motion, and raid Mr Mesa deserved every credit for tho manner in which ho had brought out tho subject. (Loud applause.) Ho (the speaker) had boon a member of a Licensing Committee over since tho present Act was passed and ho thought that such an inquiry was necessary and that tho resolution should ho' carried unanimously, (Applause.) Tho motion was then put and carried unanimously.