SENSATIONAL POLITICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 972, 22 October 1908, Page 20

SENSATIONAL POLITICS.

Regrettable though it be, it is not at all uncommon for some political candidates to adopt every and any means to create sensations which, though perhaps discreditable to themselves and their supporters, aim at the bringing into prominence a candidate who would otherwise be comparatively unknown in an electorate. Little or nothing else can be attached to the misguided efforts of Mr E. G. B. Moss to attract attention to his candidature for the Parnell seat. For three years Mr Moss enjoyed the honour of representing the electors of Ohinemuri in the House of Representatives, as it was in his day styled. At the first opportunity the electors of the district preferred another representative. Mr Moss now seeks election for Parnell, in opposition to Mr Frank Lawry M.P., who we will make bold to say is as well known as Mr Moss is little known. However as all appears to be fair in politics as it is in love and war, Mr Moss has adopted an extraordinary expedient in attempting to woo the votes of the prohibition party. He has now almost on the eve of the election, produced a highly sensational statement in> which an ex-hotelkeeper alleges ' that Messrs Hancock and Co. were party to the bribing of a licensing committee. Briefly put- the charges amount to the fact that this ex-hotel-keeper, whose name is not at present disclosed, was charged in account by the firm £7OO, arid that this money, it was explained by the firm, was used to further the transfer of a license from one township to another. Of course this with embelishments forms sensational reading and has possibly attracted some little attention to Mr Moss. But Messrs Hancock and Co., in a perfectly frank reply, state that the ex-hotelkeeper did receive the £7OO and that it was advanced in the course of ordinary business to acquire land and erect new buildings. They are also equally frank in a statement that Mr Moss openly stated at some time he would try and get even with the trade for not supporting him in his candidature for Ohinemuri some years ago. They are also painfully frank in another statement to the effect that the ex-hotelkeeper, some two or three months ago went to them with a threat that unless they paid him a considerable sum of money he would publicly accuse them in a manner somewhat similar to what has been done through Mr Moss. As the transaction forming the subject of the charges took place some eight years ago, it would appear that Mr Moss has had to wait a long time to try and get even with the Trade, and that the other party’s affairs and conscience move the reverse of rapidly. On the face of it the whole affair appears to be a bare-faced attempt to provide a sensation on the eve of the local option poll. To what extent it will further Mr Moss’ chances at the election remains to be seen, though he can hardly expect many votes from the prohibitionists as his inclinations run, so he says, to close up licensed houses, but not to give up the pleasure which intoxicating liquor gives him. As we remarked last week this candidate’s expressions on the liquor question are purely selfish. How can he reconcile the apparent facts that closing of licensed houses means the closing of the way by which the working man can procure the liquor from which he may derive the same pleasure as Mr Moss. Possibly the aspirant for the honour of representing Parnell pictures that £3OO a year will warrant a well-stocked cellar from which much pleasure can be derived. The working man —and there are a goodly number in the Parnell electorate —cannot anticipate any such means of gratification, and may not, from reasons of prudence or a slenderly-lined purse, care to carry a stock of pleasuring-giving liquors in his home. Reverting again to the

statement as made by the ex-hotel-keeper, and given such prominence to by Mr Moss, we must express the greatest surprise that a man who had at any time been a comrade in the ranks of the Trade, should have adopted or been led to adopt a course on the eve of the local option poll, which can only do incalculable harm to every man, woman and child connected with or dependant upon the Trade in the Dominion.

The elections are fixed for the 17th of next month; not much time left now for seeing that all friends and supporters are on the rolls.

A municipal brewery, started in Vienna a year or two ago, has proved a very disastrous investment for the tax-payers. Nearly £400,000 is invested in the concern, and last year the working resulted in a loss of £lB,OOO. This was in spite of the fact that the sales of beer largely increased. The total output for the year rising to 2750 gallons.

The ease with which liquor can be purchased in prohibited areas was related last Thursday at Taihape when a sly-grog case, heard in the S.M.’s Court which, presented a unique feature. Evidence showed that Sergeant Beattie, of the local police, proceeded to Utiku one Sunday night, and, disguised with false whiskers and a slouch hat, applied for a bottle of beer. The sly-grog shop seller warily asked who the would-be purchaser was. The sergeant replied that he was “ Joe Smith,” and that he worked at the mill. A bottle was then sold, and the sergeant, removing his disguise, revealed himself, and, with other police assistance, searched the house. The proprietor received a month’s imprisonment on two charges but is reported to have left for Australia. Another defendant on a similar charge was fined £lO.

A Bill has been introduced in South Australia to improve and extend the local option principle. The provisions include the registration of existing barmaids, and the prohibition of the employment of others in future.

Last Thursday, at Balclutha, before Mr Kenrick, S.M., James Sharp, traveller for Irvine and Stevenson, Dunedin, who charged with taking an order for two bottles of whisky from a resident at Owaka, in a no-license district, along with a grocery order. He was convicted, and fined £lO, with costs, £2 9s. On a second information, Sharp was convicted, and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. The magistrate remarked that he did not wish to send the young fellow to gaol, but the penalty was imprisonment for a second conviction. Counsel for defence said defendant had lost his job, and had received no profit from the liquor transactions. Briggs Bros., of the Standard Brewery, Caversham, were charged with selling liquor to a resident of Balclutha, in a no-license district, and failing to send notice to the clerk of the Court, within a reasonable time. The evidence showed that 17 days had elapsed before notice was received by the clerk of the Court. Defendants were fined 20s and costs.

In the House of Commons, Clause 2 of the Licensing Bill has been passed and in it local option has been established in the shape of a paragraph enabling any rural parish or urban area within a licensing district to veto new licenses, on a two-thirds majority.

Mr R. Thompson, the Independent candidate for City West, says that it was the verdict of every tourist who visited New Zealand that the tariff charges in New Zealand hotels were among the most reasonable in the world.

Mr C. H. Poole, M.P., has expressed the opinion that it would be a national calamity if the Hon. Geo. Fow ds were compulsory retired from political life. Now will some prophet rise up and tell us what’s going to become of City West if Mr Poole is similarly retired. Calamity would hardly express it.

At a meeting of the Auckland Trainways Sick and Accident Friendly Society it was proposed by Mr S. M. Farrelly, secretary, “ That this meeting of tramway employees assembled as members of the Auckland Tramways Sick and Accident Friendly Society, desires to place on record its approval of the way the liquor traffic is controlled, and, further, that it will support the continuance of license at the coming election, and that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Press.” This was seconded by Mr W. Kirkwood, and carried unanimously.

In the case in which John Bowie Arnott, a Napier storekeeper, was charged with sly-grog selling, the magistrate delivered judgment last Monday, convicting defendant and imposing a fine of £2O and costs.

At Hamilton last Monday morning in the Magistrate’s Court, Mr E. C. Cutten gave judgment in the cases against Julian and Birch for permitting their premises to be used for an illegal game known as n muff ” or “ devil’s pool.” His Worship said: “ I found this matter a very difficult one. I have put in a lot of time in making up my mind theat there was no offence in these particular cases. I had my decision put in the form I wanted it, but subsequently discovered that the 1907 Act repealed the Act under which the information was laid. I therefore dismiss the information.”

The work of the Licensing Courts under the Local Option Bill in New South Wales has been completed. The hotels closed throughout the State numbered 292, equal to about 966 of the total.

It is anticipated that the electoral rolls will be closed about November 3rd.

The inns of England, celebrated by Harrison and famous far and wide at the beginning of the last century, have degenerated into the sad places which we visit only of necessity. Little did Stephenson think, when he proposed the line from Manchester to Liverpool, that he would run the wayside inns of England, and kill the art of cookery.—“ Blackwood’s Magazine.”

The municipality of Dieppe has decided in favour of an annual tax of £l2 per head on barmaids. In many establishments collections are being made among the customers to pay the tax.

Three thousand years ago no less than 700 varieties of the shark tribe were swimming about in the oceans, and ready to gulp down any sailor that fell overboard. To-day there are only about 60 varieties known to

exist in the sea, the other 640 having come ashore.

Waiting at , the Willesden Court, London, one day recently for a defendant who did not appear, were one magistrate, two clerks, two police sergeants, one gaoler, one warrant officer, one assistant warrant officer, three police constables, three reporters, and one Press messenger.

At Melbourne the other day, the Customs seized four cases which were marked curios, and found in them over £2OOO worth of opium. ■ .

In the Police Court at Dunedin last Monday the heavy fine of £75 was imposed on one Leah Myers, who was convicted of having unlawfully sold beer and whisky without having a license. Defendant who had been previously convicted of a similar offence pleaded guilty. A month was allowed in which to pay the fine.