SALE OF BEER

Hokitika Guardian, 2 September 1929, Page 8

SALE OF BEER

PUBLIC TRUSTEE, AS BREWER. N.Z. ALLIANCE PROTESTS. WELLINGTON, August 2D. The publicity methods of the Public Trustee in advertising the products of the McCarthy estate were called into question by a deputation from the standing Committee of the New Zealand Alliance which waited on the . rime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) today. .'llie speakers pointed but that the Public Trustee had issued an attractive pamphlet entitled “The Guiding jjiglit” advertising Macarthy’s ale and stout—a specialised form of publicity regarded by the Alliance as an ill omen if it were going to be applied to every trading concern the Public Trustee might have to administer. The Alliance also objected.to the beverages being referred to as body-building and health-giving, when ascertained scientific ' fact concerning the effect of alcohol on the human organism said otherwise. What issued from such an office should not be calculated to mislead the people on a vital matter of public physicial and moral health. The Alliance further objected to its being done in the name of charity. The Government was asked to follow the action of the Imperial authorities, which had discontinued advertisements in post offices and post office publications. A protest was also made against the action of the Public Trustee wniie running a brewery and pushing the sale of liquor preventing his officers fi’om taking a part in the Alliance campaign because the Alliance had been described, and wrongly so, as a political organisation. In reply, the Prime Minister said he would bring the representations of the reputation under the notice of the Public Trustee. As Minister in charge of the Public Trust Office lie was bound to piotect the Public Trustee in his lmancial relations with the people through the Government. He could not, therefore, criticise any of the observations made in regard to the Macartliy estate excepting to say that the whole law in New Zealand would require to he altered if effect were to be given to the suggestions advanced. The Public Trust Office was an institution available for everybody who wished to have his estate administered. In the present case a; brewer had died and left the administration of his estate in the hands of the Public Trustee. The question then was to whether the country should deprive til-. Public Trustee of the right ,o handle the will of anybody who chose to select him as administrator because it opened up the very contentious matter of the Trade versus the Prohibition movement, or of license versus no-license. In those circumstances it would require legislation to restrict the functions of the Public Trustee and that would indeed open the door in a very wide way. The Public Trustee was appointed by Act, and he had to do his duty, and he could only be relieved of it by the Parliament of the country. The Minister in charge could not,relieve him of it or from undertaking the obligation placed on him by the late Mr McCarthy. The sentimental side ,of course, carried weight, but the practical side also came in, and the Prime Minister was personally powerless in the matter of the Public Trustee’s administration of, wills. He would, however, direct the attention of the Public Trustee to the representations.