LIQUOR LICENSES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 45, 30 September 1949, Page 4

LIQUOR LICENSES

Sir, —I don’t know why all the bother over extra liquor Licenses for Whakatane. This town definitely needs another hotel and it has been proved in the past that the licensed accommodation houses are more popular with the travelling public and far better run than private hotels. For proof of this one has only to go to any town in New Zealand to find out. As for a wholesale liquor license. I hope that Whakatane gets one as soon as possible. Beer is extremely dear here when compared with other places. While I admire any person with temperance leanings I object to them trying to tell me what I shall drink and trying to do away with my harmless pot. If they do not like liquor well and good. But don’t interfere with those who do. It is not all of us who like tea to drink. Yours etc., WILLIAM NUTALE.

Sir, —“A Mother” would probably benefit from an occasional dose of mildly alcoholic liquor to steady her nerves. Why the hysteria about the possibility qf inqreased drinking facilities being .“forced upon Us”? Is the good lady really afraid that, if another hotel opens at Whakatane, its licensee will lead a team of hard-boiled barmen on a raid on all the non-drinkers in town with the object of pouring liquor down their throats by force? More drinking facilities do not necessarily mean more drinking by people who do not drink to any extent at present. Why should they? If another grocery shop opened in town would “A Mother” consider herself obliged to buy more than her normal quantity of groceries? Would the establishment of another butcher’s shop compel her to buy two joints for the weekend instead of one? Apparently neither she nor her family require any drinking facilities at all. It might be suggested that her own influence is probably the strongest possible safeguard for her young against the “ravages of the traffic”. But why not let the average citizen, who is a strong enough character to enjoy a drink without becoming a drunkard, have all the facilities he wants to indulge his tastes in comfort? If “A Mother” and her relations feel they haven’t the moral courage to know when they’ve had enough they are wise to refrain altogether. Vniivo off* JOHN BARLEYCORN.