SENSATION AT PARNELL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3019, 16 October 1908, Page 5

SENSATION AT PARNELL.

By Telegraph—Pi*ess Association AUCKLAND, October 15.

Mr Moss, Independent candidate for Parnell, created a sensation in addressing a meeting last night, bv producing a declaration, signed by an ex-hotelkeeper, alleging that money had been paid to a licensing committee to secure the transfer of a license. The hotelkeeper asserted that eight years ago he had a hotel 1 in a country district, and desired to 1 transfer the license to another centre : in that district.. He had financial dealings with a firm of brewers, who rendered him an account, which in- 1 eluded three items of £2OO each, and one for £IOO. He alleged he was informed that the £7OO had been paid to secure the approval of the licensing committee to the transfer of the license, and being helpless he had to consent. The -head of the brewing firm was a man of standing, and he hoped the rumour would be proved to be without foundation. Mr Moss said he would be so pleased that he would give £2O to any charity the chairman chose to mention. He was sending the hotelkeeper's declaration to the head of the brewing firm for a denial. AN EXPLRANATION. AUCKLAND, October 15. Hancock and Co., replying to Mr Moss's statement, assert that they assisted the hotelkeeper in question to acquire a portion of land and erect a new building, but the Company had no interest in the hotel beyond the mortgage. The hotelkeeper did receive the sums of money, mentioned by Mr Moss in the course of business, | but these were actual cash loans to himself. The Company did not foreclose on the mortgage, but as the hotelkeeper intimated that he was unable to make the business pay, the Company released him of his indebtedness by taking over the securi- , ties, paying him £I,OOO and releasing collateral assets worth about £BOO. The Company were now . agreeable to sell the property for less than its actual cost. The Comi pany's business transactions with the hotelkeeper closed in July 1906. Two . or three* months ago the hotelkeeper , made a threat that unlebs he was | paid a considerable sum he would | accuse the Company, as had been i done through Mr Moss, but the Comr pany declines to be drawn into a public discussion through Mr Moss.