SLY GROG-SELLING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3292, 10 August 1911, Page 2

SLY GROG-SELLING.

“PUBLIC WILL NOT ASSIST THE POLICE.” LIQUOR IN NO-LICENSE DISTRICT. (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, August 9. During the past financial year there were 196 prosecutions for sly grogselling, resulting in 117 convictions, cs compared with 230 prosecutions and lot convictions during tho preceding year. The direct cost of securing these convictions was £BOO, but the fines imposed amounted to £1862, compared with £2358 in 1909-10. In his annual report, the Commissioner of Police again comments on the failure of the public to afford the police any assistance in detecting illicit sales of liquor, and for that reason it is found necessary to resort to methods which are distasteful both to the public and' to the police. Mr Waldegrave, referring to the legislation of last year, said that it had a good effect in abolishing the" bogus locker system. “The locker system,” he says, “was used in some districts to defy "the law. The extension to, the proclaimed Native area of the provisions of the Licensing Act requiring notice to be given of liquor sent into no-license districts has materially assisted the police in gaining control of the liquor traffic in these areas. I regret to observe, however, that there has been a disposition on the part of many dealers in liquor to disregard the provisions of the Act in this respect, or to regard them as vexatious requirements to be disobeyed or evaded.. It is a very valuable provision, as it enables the police to promptly _ trace liquor consigned to persons within the prohibited districts and to follow it up before it has been disposed of illegally.”