LIQUOR LAW OFFENCES

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1000, 17 June 1930, Page 10

LIQUOR LAW OFFENCES

ALLIANCE WANTS DRASTIC ACTION POLICE WILL DO THEIR DUTY Press Association WELLINGTON, Today. A deputation from the New Zealand waited on the Minister of Justice, the Hon. J. C. Cobbe, this morning asking for immediate and drastic action to put down the lawbreaking by licensed liquor sellers. Particular reference was made to after-hours and Sunday trading, and it was stated that if the police were not ignorant of the offences they were guilty of a grave dereliction of duty, and if they were neither ignorant nor careless, but impotent, then it was The duty of the Government to give them power to prove that the liquor traffic was not stronger than the Government. The deputation regretted the fro quency with which cases of sly grogselling were dismissed and it was submitted that the law was weak and required strengthening. Police Commissioner W. B. Mcllveney said he was not aware that the police passed offences by. Every complaint was investigated. ITe could not sa:.to what extent sly grog-selling existed, but there was no doubt a certain amount went on. That would always happen. So far as the police weru concerned there was not a single case which came to their knowledge in which action was not taken. Personally, he would not hesitate to do his duty in the matter and would see to the best of his ability that the law was enforced. It was to the interests ot the trade and the public generally that it should be enforced, but first of ai! it was necessary to have direct evidence to justify proceedings, and that was not always easy to obtain. The Minister gave an assurance tha t so far as he was concerned lie would see that the law was enforced. Illega' trading would not be allowed to over ride the law.