Hokitika Publican Challenges Mr T. Pratt To Debate

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 October 1947, Page 2

Hokitika Publican Challenges Mr T. Pratt To Debate

A Hokitika publican has challenged the secretary of the West COast Trades Council, Mr T. Pratt, to a public debate for a watjei’ of £lOO, on the beer boycott atid prices.

The hotel-keeper, Mr E. L. Me 1 Keofi, deposited a cheque for £lOO with the Guardian newspaper Office, Hokitika, this morning, and has asked Mr Pratt to do the same if he is prepared to accept the challenge. The loser' of the debate, which, it is proposed, will be held in the Soldiers’ Hall, Hokitika, will contribute his wager Of £lOO to the Food-for-Britain campaign, while the wihner will retain his money. * Conditions, stipulated by Mr McKeon, are that the Mayor Of HOkitika, Mr A R. Elcock, or some. Other estimable citizen be the sole judge of the debate, and his decision be final and accepted by. both The subject matter is to be Strictly confined to statements made .by the Trades Council representatives who addressed a meeting at Hokitika last Wednesday, when unionists decided to institute a boycott in that town, and Mr Pratt, according to. the conditions imposed by Mr McKeon, Will be Called upon to prove that beer can be sold economically at 6d for 10 ozs “based on today’s greatly increased cost of running hotels.” Each party will be allowed 20 minutes m which to state his case with 10 minutes for the reply, the speaker for the negative to have the final reply. TIMBER WORKERS AGREE TO HOTEL BO.YCOTT The Westland Timber Workers’ Uiiion' has aligned itself With , about 14 other trade unions in the district, by passing a resolution agreeing, to observe a boycott of hotels charging 7d for beer. This resolution Was adopted unanimously at the annual meeting held at Greymouth .on Saturday. The union also endorsed the action of the Trades Council m relation to the beer boycott. It is understood that there wa§ a small attendance at the meeting. . ■ Today, which begins the third week of the boycott, all but three hptels m the Hokitika, Greymouth and Reefton districts are selling. beer for 7d a glass. Two Ross .hotels which had retained the 6d charge today fell into line With the majority of West Coast

publicans, and the only hotels at which 6d beer may now be bought are one at v Greymouth, one at Kuinara and the Franz Joseph.

ROA HOTEL-KEEPER REVERTS TO 6d CHARGE FOR BEER

After charging 7d for beer since October 1, the Roa hotel this morning recommenced selling for _6d a glass. Discussing the matter with the Evening Star this afternoon, the proprietor, Mr Clark, stated that the reason for the move was that .Roa was actually in the Buller-electorate and he was adopting the charges levied by Westport hotel-keepers. “I tri'ed to,” he said when asked if he had charged 7d during two weeks, and explained that he Was himself a member of the Roa Miners’ Union, “and I have to be With them,” he added.