OHINEMURI DECISION.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 52, 2 March 1909, Page 6

OHINEMURI DECISION.

A prominent mennher of the Band of Business Men was interviewed, tfnd he said _—' _3efc_i'o_ <iV_*» not a surprise to him, as ithe charges- _-ought forward were of such a trivial character. The stubborn flgififc for freedom for years put up by•this electorate, coupled with the fact •that the last voting was Continuance 2640, No-license. 3340, proves that the statement that "it was "the price of beer" is simply farcical in the extreme, and am insult to sober men. But it was evident the liquor monopoly had adopted a "Before and after price" to rally waning vofces> hut it ignominiously failed. He failed to see where the loss of £80,000 came in, as at is merely the raght ta> sell liquor that has (been stopped; the property and furniture still belong to their rightful owners. He thought, per'hapSj the public may not he- aware that the right to sell 'beer at once places a I •fictitious value on all hotel property, hut | without ifcEis right in the shape of a yearly license, which may at any time i not be renewed, the property stands at I its market value. Thus it is shown by •the law to he what 'the insurance companies would term a hazardous risk. I He understood that drinking hotels ore •the liquor monopoly's most valuable asset, Which no doubt explains .the al-1 leged fahulous loss, .which actually lay in profit and not m capital. He would assure the widows, 6tc., who are said to own certain hotels that were tied to the liquor monopoly, that now they will be released, and it is -wonderful how soon one adapts oneself to iorce of circumstances. Further, all would like compensation for business ithortsighted—ess, amel mistakes in falling markets j etc.; hut to ask fcxr compensation when the public decline ,to take one's beer is, as stated, simply farcical. When the railways supplanted coaching, and the State system <>f education private schools, no compensation was asked for or allowed. . One gentleman in the trade said that "sly-grog and gaiwblihg dens, with thenattendant evils, would become rampant." Of course, these words of wisdom may be expected, 'hut they only go to prove that it is high time-there was a change, j and 'that the police must carefully watch the suppliers fo these dens which the ■ trade indicates.— (Advt.)