John Michael BRADSTREET

LIQUOR LOADING WATCHED BY CONSTABLE

SYDNEY, Wednesday.- A police constable told the Liquor Royal Commission today he had seen beer loaded on a lorry from the cellar of the New Brighton Hotel, Manly.

Constable John Michael Bradstreet, of Manly police, said this had occurred on December 10 at 5.30 a.m. At the same hour, two days later, the lorry was standing outside the hotel again.

The lorry carried the name of West, of Botany. When Cyril Gardner Maloney, licensee of the New Brighton Hotel, was recalled to the witness box, he denied the constable’s allegations.

Maloney also denied being paid £250 in cash for beer by a Riverview cafe waiter. He said he had never seen the waiter.

The Riverview Cafe manager, Lars Egon Samuelson, was questioned on his allegations that in September or October last year he had bought 470 dozen bottles of beer from the New Brighton Hotel.

Samuelson said his books had shown 171 dozen bottles of beer a month under the name “Bert” and 193 dozen under the name of “Mac”.

A certain amount of this beer was accounted for by supplies from the Maitland and Morpeth Hotel. Sussex Street, and Bank Hotel, Newtown, while the remainder had been purchased and delivered to the Riverview Cafe by Victor Phillip Taffa, wine and spirit merchant, of Haberfield, a Mr. Patterson and a Mr. Jones.

When giving evidence before the Commission earlier this month, Ernest Alexander Ireland, managing director of the Riverview Cafe, said he had got beer from the Bank and Maitland and Morpeth Hotels. Samuelson yesterday told the Commission he had made two visits with Riverview employees to obtain bottled beer from the New Brighton Hotel, Manly. The last time was on the Friday before Six-Hour Day, he said.

Asked how he remembered that particular date, Samuelson said he thought it was discussed at the Riverview with one of the staff. He had not tried to get beer from other hotels when he ceased getting supplies from the New Brighton Hotel, Manly.

The Riverview now had 600 dozen bottles of beer in stock. It had come from sources he had disclosed.

He had paid 33/- a dozen to the New Brighton and 35/ a dozen for other black market beer.

Samuelson told Mr. J. W. Smyth, Q.C. ( for the U.L.V.A. ) he had been determined, when he first appeared before the Commission, to conceal where he had got beer, except from Cavill’s, the House of Hayes, Duke of Edinburgh and New Brighton Hotels.

Samuelson agreed with Mr. Smyth that he was determined for some reason to shelter somebody.

Mr. Smyth: There was no reason why you should commit perjury unless you were trying to shelter somebody?

Samuelson: No.

Samuelson said he had realised in the witness box that unless he gave the Commissioner some information he would go to gaol. He admitted that he had to “put someone in” or go to gaol.

Cyril Gardner Maloney, licensee of the New Brighton Hotel, Manly, said he could not understand Constable Bradstreet‘s evidence about beer leaving the hotel on December 10. Maloney said it definitely did not happen.

He said he did not know of any occasion which would involve his sending away large quantities of beer from the hotel. Empty boxes had been sent away.

Cecil Thomas Kinnear, of Sylvania, a waiter at Riverview Cafe, said about five or seven months ago he had picked up between 140 and 150 dozen bottles of beer in cases at the New Brighton and loaded it into two covered wagons. Two men named Sid Moore and Bert Lockwood had been with him.

The beer had been collected on Samuelson’s instructions.

Kinnear said that at the hotel he had told Maloney he was there to pick up liquor for the Riverview. Maloney had replied: ‘I think it’s all ready down below.’

The beer, which was packed in cases in the cellar, was carried to the street by two men.

Kinnear told the judge he paid between £240 and £250. The money, which was in £10 notes, had been counted in Maloney’s presence.

Mr. Justice Maxwell then ordered Maloney to come forward to the body of the court, and asked: “Is that the man ?”

Kinnear: Definitely, it’s the man who got the money.

Mr. Whitlam ( assisting the Commissioner ), then asked Maloney to give his version of the incident. Maloney, who told the judge he had had a good look at the witness, said he had never seen him before in his life.

Judge: You heard the details of his handing you £250 in notes. That did not happen ? Maloney: No.

When Herbert George Lockwood was brought into the court, Maloney said he had never seen him before.

Walter Taylor, secretary of Goulburn and District Trades and Labour Council, said Tooths and Toohey’s beer had not been available in Goulburn hotels for two years.

Mudgee beer could be bought for 4/_ a bottle and Springfield beer for 3/6 a bottle.

He had reported complaints of saloon and lounge bars being open while public bars were shut to the local licensing officer, Inspector Freeman.

However, the police officer had taken no notice.

Taylor said he had heard of people obtaining bottled Tooths and Tooheys beer after hours. He had not reported this to local police because it would have been of no avail.

Taylor said a resolution making allegations against certain members of the police force had already been submitted to the Attorney-General.

Mr. Justice Maxwell said he would like inquiries made because of the suggestion that the police were lax in their duty.

The hearing was adjourned until 2 p.m. tomorrow.