NO-LICENSE MATTERS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 391, 19 March 1908, Page 3

NO-LICENSE MATTERS.

Auckland, March 17. The Auckland Prohibition league carried a resolution expressing alarm on account of the spread of intemperance in the community. It was resolved to draw the attention of the Alliance Executive to Commissioner Dinuie’s letter to the licensed Victuallers employers of Christchurch, dated Wellington, February 28th, which is regarded as an attempt to unduly interfere with the independence of inspectors of police.

The letter referred to is as follows, and was written from Mr W. Dinuie, Commissioner of Police, to the Incensed Victuallers’ Union of Employers at Auckland : —“ Sir, — I have the honour to acknowledge you letter of the 14th iust., addressed to the Hon. the Minister of Justice, complaining of the action of Inspector Mitchell in expressing his views to the press in respect of the ‘ No-Eicense ’ movement at Invercargill, and in reply to inform you, by direction, that it appears the inspector, whilst in conversation with a reporter at the Police Office in Invercargill, casually made use of the words complained of whilst talking about the orderly behaviour of frequenters of the streets, but he alleges he had no suspicion at the time that any use would be made of his utterances. I can only say I must regret the inspector’s indiscretion, as police regulations provide against any information connected with the department being communicated to private individuals without authority, and information of the description indicated should not be divulged or an opinion expressed by a police officer under the circumstances.”