Attempt To Settle Liquor Price War

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30626, 17 December 1964, Page 1

Attempt To Settle Liquor Price War

(New Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN, December 16, Executives on the Hotel Association of New Zealand are in Dunedin to mediate in the city’s liquor price war.

The men making the investigation are the president of the association, Mr J. Ewart, the association’s chief executive officer, Mr J. J. Williams, and Mr W. Thomas, president of the Wellington Hotel Association and a member of the National Association’s emergency committee.

The secretary of the Dunedin Hotel Association, Mr J. J. Hall, would not comment tonight on the meeting which the New Zealand executives will have tomorrow with the [Dunedin association.

In a private and confidential letter from the Dunedin Hotel. Association to its members, the following telegram is quoted from the chief executive of the Hotel Association of New Zealand: — “Executive most alarmed at trading practices in Dunedin which could have adverse effect on whole industry. Executive members available to attend meeting if this can be arranged and there is prospect of good meeting.”

The letter from the Dunedin association to its members says that “newspaper publicity throughout New

Zealand has drawn attention to the price war in Dunedin and it is inevitable that repercussions must follow." The letter continues: “As licensees have previously been advised, the Licensing Control Commission is to sit in Dunedin for its general review in March next, and unless the chaotic conditions existing locally are rectified the commission will draw its own conclusions and act accordingly.”