"WET" AGAIN?

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19481, 30 November 1928, Page 8

"WET" AGAIN?

CASE OP ASHBURTON. CLUB TO OPEN ITS BAB. Consequent Upon its merging with the Ellesmere electorate, Ashburton automatically becomes a licensed district (Jter being "dry" for the past twentylive years. Considerable interest is being talWn in the licensing question and the most recent development is the organisation of a petition to have hotel licensee transferred to Ashburton. Apart from this the erection of H brewery is being considered, The idea of the promoters at first was to acquire the old Won Brewery 'in Kermodo street, but this has been abandoned in favour of the erection of new and up-to-date premises- It is understood that most of the capital hap been subscribed in Christchurch, and the promoters have been promised t)ieir first order from hotels at other centres in the country. Although the Minister for Internal Affairs not actually remoyed the suspension of the charter of the Ashr Injrton (Sub and Mutual School of Arts, the committee is making arrangements for opening the bar, which is being refitted. A largo number of (implications were received for the position of chief steward, and a wellknown Timaru barman was appointed and will be in Ashburton to-day. The club has been, told by the authorities to act on the advice of its solicitor, and this is what it is doingIt has been informed that it can operi the bar after the gftsettinp of the de* olaration of the licensing issue, which is expected to-day or to-morrow, If this happens it is the intention of the committee to open pn Monday, There is some doubt tp the attitude thnt the authorities will take, but the genr eral opinion is that the actioij of the elub in opening the bar will be the subject of a test case, t Two wholesale wine and spirit merohnnts have opened up brwrtphes. in Ashburton and »re being well patronised. *