AN AUCKLAND SENSATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 251, 16 October 1908, Page 4

AN AUCKLAND SENSATION.

SERIOUS CJIAKIiK AGAINST LICKN.SiN u COMMITX-EJS, 1 iiy Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Thursday. Mr. I-]. ||. .Moss, LutepciiiiciK, can- ( dida'le for Piunell, created a sensation during his address to a meeting last -j nignt by producing a declaration sigind by au ex-hotelkei'ipcr alleging that mo ney had been paid to a licensing committee to gain the transfer of a lice'ise. < The liotclkiicper asserted Mat erght years ago he had had a hotel in » country disliiet and desired to trans for the lieeii.-e to another centre in that district, lie had financial dealings wiil'h a certain firm of brewers, '.\ho rendered him an account including three items of £2OO .men and one of £IOO. He alleged that he was informed tllat t'liis £7OO had been p.i'.rl for the approval of the lieensin,; Olmlnittee to tiie transfer of tho license, and, being iiclpless, he llad to consent. Mr. Moss said the head of the bi" v ing firm was a man o. sta'.inmg and lie hoped the rumor would be. proved to be without foundation, hint if the brewer could prove this lie (Mi- Moss) would be so pleased that he would give ,1.200 to any charity the chairman might choose to mention. lie wa; sen bug tile ex-hotelkoeper's declarati a i.n \be bead of tlie browing tiro for a denial. Auckland. Later. Hancock and Company, replying to ilr. Moss' statement, assert t'i'ey assisted the hotidkeepcr in question In a.• quire a portion of hum Hid erect :"W premises, but the compv iv had ii" interest in tile hotel beyond the mortgage, holding security for m :/t m rjally advanced The hotelkcepor did receive sums of money mentioned by Mr. Moss in the course of business, but Ki/.'se were actual rash loans to himself The company did not foreclose on the niorlgage, hut as the hotclkeoper intimated "that he was unable to make the business pay, the company released him of the indebtedness by taking over the securities, paying him £IOOO and releasing the collateral assets. worth about £BOO. The company was now agreeable to sell the property at less than the actual cost. Tihe company's business transactions with the liotelkeoper closed in July, lftOli. Two or three months ago the 'stated that unless paid a considerable sum he would threaten the company, as he had ttlone through Mr Moss, but th« company declined to lie drawn into a public discussion through Mr Moss, who was probably acting as the hotel keeper's solicitor to obtain evidence to substantiate a threatened action.