SYDNEY'S SLY GROG SHOPS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 199, 11 May 1918, Page 3

SYDNEY'S SLY GROG SHOPS

FIVE YEAES' FINES, .£17,124.

Although there was a falling-off in slygrog cases in Sydney last year, as com. pared with the previous twelve months, tho offence (states the 'Sun") has regained popularity this year, with the result that there has been a substantial increase in ,tho number of convictions for the four months just closed. But, in the opinion of tbe Inspector. General of Police (Mr. Mitchell), that increase does not r.ecessarily indicate ail increase in sly-grogging generally. "From August to December of last year," ho stated recently, "it was impossible for the police to give due attention to sly-grog selling, but since the return of tho men to their stations tho evil has been attended to, with the Tesult that there has been an increase in the num. ber of convictions."

Following upon the remarks made by Mr. C. M. Mncfariane, Chief Stipendiary Magistrate, who, in sentencing a sly-grog seller to three months' gaol, as well as fining him «£lol>, said that sly-grog selling was now 60 rife in Sydney that it was becoming a menace, Mr. Mitchell had prepared a- return dealing with slygrog selling in tho metropolis for the past five years, and for the four months of this year. It is as follows:— Year. Cases. Convioted. Fines. 1913 39 2!) ,£ll9O 1914 49 +1 .^lll6O . 1915 55 49 Ji2lS4 19fG 18!) 129 £4930 1017 110 104 . .£4520 1918 44 41 .£2IBO ■ Totals 436 3% £17,124