CANBERRA "WET."

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19508, 3 January 1929, Page 11

CANBERRA "WET."

THE CAFE SYSTEM. BUSINESS PEOPLE OPTIMISTIC. (73011 OC3 OWST COfiXBSPOITDENT.) SYDNEY, December 27. Canberra, Australia's capital city, is now "wet." The dry regime ended last Friday, and at 9 o'clock on Saturday morning, the first glass of ale was served to a thirsty customer, a shepherd, who left a flock of sheep not far from Parliament House and went across to one of the hotels. He eme ged with an unaccustomed sparkle in a eve. Then it rained heavily for tiie first time for months. Canberra was doubly "wet." , , Of course, the conditions of the sale of liquor in Canberra differ from those in force in other cities and towns ot Australia. In Canberra they hke to be refined, so there are no bars there and consequently no barmaids. Lntil other arrangements are Capital Commission is controlling tiie sale of liquor and it has leased shop premises at each of the different ' centres" (called suburbs m an ordinary city). At these places, officially called "cafes," an attempt is being made to carry out the Continental idea of having all drinks consumed at tables rather than at a bar counter. The attempt was not entirely successful on the nrs_ dav. Custom dies hard and most o the customers at the cafes preferred to have their drink standing up. Nevertheless, it was a fact that the cafes were far better patronised than the two hotels, but this may have been doe to the fact that the facilities provided for drinking at the hotels .were by no means adequate, nor were they inviting. The liquor was hidden away, though it must be admitted that the Commission had stocked up so well that anv order could be fulfilled. At the cafes oubJic servants, commission officers, bajik clerks, and professional men called for their drinks alongside workers in their working attire, and all appeared to enjoy the unusual experience. There will be no such things as saloon bars at Canberra, and if there are social distinctions in life at the capital they will not be reflected amonq- the thirsty son Is. Although the result of the first few 1 dajs' jaraiiii|g appoflrrd to be

Tory, it is hardly likely that the problem of turning the expensive hotels at Canberra into payable propositions wiU be solved if the existing arrangements are continued, for the eafes appear to take away from the hotels the ordinary bar trade which usually constitutes the chief source of profit to a hotel. In supplying drink at six centres the Commission has certainly catered well for all classes, but witfi the present population at Canberra it is doubtful if so many establishments are justified. Canberra has certainly gone "wet" with a vengeance, and it is probable that the tourist traffic will benefit accordingly. That, at least, is the hope of the people at Canberra. Business people are optimistic as to the effect of the introduction of liquor. One shopkeeper says that there has been a distinct improvement _ already in trade. He was fortunate in having a shop close to one of the cafes. Previously, much of the trade went to the nearby town of Queanbeyan. which has always been "wet." and Queanbeyan traders naturally fear the effect of liquor sales at Canberra.