STARTLING DEVELOPMENTS PROMISED.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LIX, Issue 9214, 5 November 1908, Page 5

STARTLING DEVELOPMENTS PROMISED.

[By Telegravh — Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, This Day,

Mr Moss, after refereuco to the specific case referred to in the declaration, said as a result of investigations by myself ancl frieuds, not only in the case referred to by me, they had collected evideuce which will incriminate besides a number of minor officials, justices of the peace, two returning officers and two Resident Magistrates.

At a political meeting on the evening of the Mth iust., Mr E. G. B. Moss, Independeut candidate for Parnell, produced a declaration, signed by an ex-hotelkeener, alleging that the sum of £700 had been paid to a Lie.using Committee by a firm of brewers to secure the transfer of a license, aud that, being helpless, the hotelkeeper had to conseut. The alleged occurrence took place eighc years ago, and the hotelkeeper stated that he had at that time financial dealings with the brewery firm, which rendered him au account, including three items of £200 each aud oue of £100. Mr Moss said that he hoped that the statement would prove to be without foundation, iv which case he would be pleased to give £20 to charity, as tlie head of tbe firm was a man of some staudiug. Next day, Messrs Hancock and Co. stated that they iiad assisted the hotelkeeper iv questiou to acquire a portion of land aud erect a new building, but denied having had auy interest in the hotel beyond the mortgage. The sums of money mentioned in the accusation as having been debited in an account rendered to the hotelkeeper were actual cash loans. Ou the hotelkeeper intimating tliat he was unable to make the business pay, the Company did not foreclose on tbe mortgage, but released him of his indebtedness by takiug over the securities, paying him £1000 and releasing collateral assets worth about £800. The Company's busiuess trausactious with the hotelkeeper closed iv July, 190(5, and the Company was now agreeable to sell the property for less than its actual cost. Some, months ago the hotelkeeper had made a threat that, unless he was paid a considerable sum, he would accuse the Company, as had beeu done through Mr Moss. The Compauy declined to be driven into a public discussion through Mr Moss.

LMEST'OABIEViEWS.

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