THE EFFECTS OF NO-LICENSE.

Evening Star, Issue 14574, 24 May 1911, Page 6

THE EFFECTS OF NO-LICENSE.

TO THK KDITOR. Sir, —No-lioouse advocates sometimes make what appear to be, strange assertions, but 1 never met one who said “ that after No-license, was carried hotel properties would continue to increase in value." Liquor traffic defenders always made much of the statement. “ that a great financial loss and injustice, would bo done them if liquor licenses were abolished." For this alleged deterioration of their property they claimed compensation. What do we now find? From the Invercargill valuation returns, published lately, it is proved that with necessary expenditure, in alterations the formerly licensed hotel properties themselves have now increased in value by nearly £24.000 in six years. The rebuilding of the Frince of Wales Hotel and others, as proposed, will add a good many thousands of pounds to even this great increase. Of course, it is not all duo to Xo-liconse. hul Invercargill has conclusively proved three tilings—first, that hotels that, lose their licenses increase in value in a lew years even upon their former licensed valuation : second, (hat hotelkeeping pays without the sale of liquor —in fact, that it pays so well that many new and larger buildings are being put up for that purpose ; and third, that No-lice.nse advocates have been ton modest in their claims for the reform—that its benefits far exceed the highest anticipations of those who have worked for No-license. What between the tine new hotel splendidly run at BaJelutba and those new ones in Invercargill, the old cry of the liquor supporters of inferior accommodation tollowing No-license is rapidly sinking into de.served oblivion.—l am. etc.. .\ R.irFTAYim. .May 24.