OAMARU LIQUOR BILL IS ESTIMATED AT £200,000

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28440, 21 November 1957, Page 21

OAMARU LIQUOR BILL IS ESTIMATED AT £200,000

“The Press’’ Special Service

DUNEDIN, November 20. Expenditure on liquor in the no-licence area of Oamaru for the year ended October 31, 1957 is conservatively estimated at more than £200,000. This estimate is based on the assumption that half the liquor which comes into the area is signed for. More than half—or even two-thirds —comes into the district not under order. Money passing over neighbouring bars would increase the amount spent on liquor. In Oamaru—the main centre — it is estimated that beer purchased under order, bottled and

draught, cost £35,500, spirits £30,500, and wine £l9OO. In Hampden, the figures were estimated at beer £ll5O, spirits £l3OO, and wine £5O. The quantity of liquor going into the southern part of the no-licence district, including Palmerston, Waikouaiti, and Waitati under order could not be assessed but it is considered that expenditure would be nearly £lOO,OOO. Orders for liquor from a nolicence district to wholesalers and hotels ultimately are notified to the police station nearest the address of the consignee. These orders show that 59,332 gallons of beer, 3519 gallons of spirits, and 958 gallons of wine were sent to Oamaru or its immediate surroundings. The retail value of this liquor is estimated at £68.000. In addition, statistics kept at Hampden showed that 1822 gallons of beer, 158 gallons of spirits and 25 gallons of wine—representing a total retail expenditure of £34oo—were consigned to that area under order. A comparison of the Oamaru figures with the last available—for the year ended December 31, 1951—shows that while the consumption of beer has increased from 57,844 gallons to 59,332 gallons. sales of spirits have soared from 1021 gallons to 3619 gallons. Wine orders have shown a substantial gain from 725 to 958 gallons. The amount of liquor being sent into Oamaru last year was not a record. In 1942, 37.357 gallons of intoxicating liquor went in under order. The quantity rose progressively until in 1947 65,004 gallons were received under order There was a gradual decline each succeeding year until in 1949 the orders were back to 58,097 gallons. The trend since then has been upwards again to 62,851 gallons for the year ended October 31, 1957.