AFTER-HOURS TRADING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25503, 5 April 1944, Page 4

AFTER-HOURS TRADING

OPEN DEFIANCE OF LAW CONCERN FELT BY CHURCH “It is an' appalling situation when we have in our midst a trade which is openly stated to rely for 30 to 50 per cent, of its profits upon illicit gains,” commented the Rev. T. Miller at a meeting of the Presbytery of Dunedin last night. A letter was received from the minister of the Mornington Church (the Rev. E. C. Walsh), which stated that at a meeting of members of his congregation, “indignation and concern had been expressed at the revelations during a sitting of the Land Sales Court in Dunedin of the flagrant violations of the laws governing the liquor traffic.” “I do not know if' people realise how serious the position is,” Mr Miller said. “It is an astounding thing that profits should be made by means of trading which is conducted in open defiance of the law.” Dr J. D. Salmond suggested that, as the church’s Temperance Committee was investigating problems relating to the liquor traffic, the report of the Land Sales Court proceeding should be forwarded to it as factual evidence. The presbytery decided to draw the Temperance Committee’s attention to the facts referred to by the Mornington Church, and to recommend that the committee give the matter full consideration. A copy of the presbytery s motion is to be sent to the Dunedin Licensing Committee.