ALLEGATIONS OF CORRUPTION.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 17773, 8 October 1927, Page 17

ALLEGATIONS OF CORRUPTION.

Liquor And Legislation. MEETING OF DEFENCE ASSOCIATION. By Cable —Press Association—Copyright.' Australian aud N.Z.. Cable Association. SYDNEY,. October 7. At a meeting of the Wine, Spirit aud Grocers Defence* Association, serious allegations were made by tho chairman, Mr It- Roney, m connection with securing amendments to the Liquor Act. He stated that some months, ago members, of whom there are 235 weio asked to subscribe £25 each, tor the purpose of establishing a fighting fund to obtain an amendment to the Liquor Act, which would allow grocers to sell wine and spirits in single bottles, instead of minimum, quantities of two gallons, as at- present. Later lie saw several Ministers, and was told to keep quiet, so as not to cause a newspaper controversy, and what they wanted would bo introduced in- Parliament. Subsequently,- he received an urgent message'to attend Parliament House; Be did so, and war, shown the Proposed Bill, but ho intimated that he was not satisfied. •Then tlie brewer, afraid that single bottle sales would injure'hotelkeepers, got 'on the scene, and when he cotn.plained,to a. prominent Labour man of the treatment'meted out, fin* falter declared: “If somebody was getting £50,000 or £OO,OOO and you ■ got an amended Act, it would-be cheap-for the ■grocers at that price.” Some of those present at the meeting demanded a return of , mopey on. the ground that it was not used as intended.

- Mr Roney, in reply'to'questions, sairf sufely they did not want to be told how the money which had been subscribed for political moans, had been spent. If the Government had been honourable they would have got the Act amended. He had been told this was not. 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, tlio amendment was up for sale to the highest bidder.' ‘

It was decided to call a further special meeting to discuss the question.