LYTTELTON AND NOLICENSE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16726, 5 December 1914, Page 5

LYTTELTON AND NOLICENSE.

• THE BOROUGH FINANCES. NEARLY £IOOO ANNUAL LOSS. RATES WILL INCREASE ONETHIRD. During the pa7t~too or three years tho people of Lyttelton have been iaeoil with several matters of vital iropoitanee to the welfare of tho borough. The question of improvements to tJie Borough Water Supply and the- i.>wraond Harbour Borough Extension Scheme are two outstanding fcatmes of municipal activity. With regard to the latter, this is a big scheme, which may mean much to Lyttelton. It lepresents a big outlay and will necessitate careful management to prevent it from affecting the finances of the borough. But, leaving on one side this question, there is another matter which overv elector in Lyttelton must consider during a tho next few, days. It is a question of supremo importance, not oiilv to tho ratepayers and, business people hut to every resident in the borough. It is a matter- which comes up for decision every three years: the question of "LICENSE" or "NOLICENSE."' .. " , , In past years a. majority of the electors has been in favour of the continuance of Licensed Houses in the borough, but on this occasion, in view of thp gradual increase of rates and the important financial problems with which the borough is face to face, the question is of greater importance than ever before.' Lyttelton occupies a singular position amongst New Zealand' towns. It is the third port of the Dominion, and while it cannot be denied that the town is progressive, the fact remains that the population is practically stationary, and that there is not a single manufacturing business of any size.. The town is dependent on its position as the port of Canterbury for its existence. The people are almost entirely dependent on the business and work resulting from the shipping, which circulates most of the money in the borough. The people of Lyttelton must therefore ask themselves what is going to be tho position of their important town in connection with the Local Option question. They are familiar with the stock arguments and sophistries of the " Nolicense " advocates, who assert that the Golden Era will arrive with the carrying of "No-license." Bub have the people of Lyttelton studied the other side of the question? Have tho No-license advocates attempted to tell them how much revenue will be lost, not only to the Borough but to the business people of Lyttelton, and have they explained how this loss is to bo made good? If No-license is carried in Lyttelton there will be a direct annual loss of nearly £IOOO to tho revenue of the Borough. An annual loss of nearly £4OOO to the tradespeople of Lyttelton, and an annual loss of nearly £3OOO in wages. These figures, which can be proved up to the hilt, are surely serious enough to make tho electors pause and consider. The closing of eight of the largest business establishments in Lyttelton, whether they are licensed houses or grocers' and butchers' shops, must have a very serious effect on the finances and property of tho Borough, and the bill must ho footed by the ratepayers and residents. Tho following statement shows in clear and convincing manner the revenue of the Borough derived from the oxistence of the Licensed Houses in Lyttelton, together with an estimate of the effect in the event of this source of revenue, being closed by the carrying of November: .i* - $ ' ' Estimato

These figures which have been carefully chocked show that the carrying of No-License mi Lyttelton will mean a direct loss of nearly £IOOO per annum in Borough revenue—£944 12s 9d to bo exact. A rate of one penny in the pound on th.~ present valuation of the Borough produces about - £125. To make good the above deficiency would require the imposition of an additional rate of 7id i" the pound. The present ORDINARY rate is- Is 9d (one shilling and ninepence) in the pound. To this must be added the TEMPORARY ADDITIONAL WATER KATE of id m the pound, making the AOIUAJj KATE 2s 4(1. The closing of the licensed houses m the Borough will,"as has already been shown, necessitate a FURTHER increase of 7d in the pound, bringing the total rate to no less than 2s "ilia. This represents an increase of fully liS 1-3 <)e" cent on the ordinary rate of Is 9d, ajid of 25 per cent on the ordinary and additional rate of 2s 4d !! '! Is any ratepayer in Lyttelton prepared to face such an enormous increaser Moreover it has to be_ remembered that the closing of eight large premises in the business part of th Borough is rot going to enhance the value of the other premises in this block—it will tend rather to depreciate them, and the corollary to this is that much of the increased burden of rates will have to be spread over the residential parts of the Borough. People owning their own residences will share the burden with the remainder of the residents who will have to foot their share of the Loll in tho form of increased rents. Owners of business premises will, owing to th© reduced rateable value of the business _ area, caused by the closing of eight licensed houses have to bear their share of the increased rating. At the same time they will he faced with a very heavy loss of trade. Grocers, butchers, bakers, aeratcd-water manufacturers and green-grocers, not to mention others, at present do a very considerable, trade with the occupants of the licensed houres whose combined annual bill for provisions and goods of various kh.ds, amounts, on';a very conservative estimate formed from a study of accounts 1o £411(30. It cannot bo denied that a very large, portion of this trade would entirely disappear if " No-license " were carried in Lyttelton Business'people must not forget either that if the City of Christchurch carries " Continuance." and Lyttelton "No-license" there will bo a very largo additional loss ct trade caused bv people going through to the Citv instead of remaining to do their shopping and spending in the port. The business and trade done m Lyttelton is not so great that eight, large buildings in the main streets will all be taken up permanently as business pTemS yielding the san.e annual proportion of the Borough revenue as at present. If they were so taken up the present shop-keepers wd be faced with more and con petmon Finallv it must not be , ioi gotten rinauy, ™ l.Vonsed premises are at that the eignt H™™ e ? - to empresent trt! &:Tou°ses £ would mean the ing or Tin.w " . r nr ft number of loss of employment people, most of whom side in the Votovii compe tition bo forced ** workers/ or to with other Lytteltoi j .leave the . port. in m * •"■

would be a straight-out less of £3200 to the annual wages bill paid in Lyttelton.

It will he seen that tho facts and figures quoted—all of which will hear tho closest scrutiny—form a> serious problem for the ratepayers, residents, business people and workers of Lyttelton. The carrying of " No-license " would mean an increase of fully onethird in the rates, the loss of much money to tradespeople. The increased rates and the loss will fall directly on the townspeople.' Apart from every other problem which confronts the Borough of Lyttelton, they must give the most careful consideration to this all-important question. A loss- of £IOOO in Borough revenue, a direct loss of £4OOO to the tradespeople, and a loss of £3OOO in wages to the workers. Can Lyttelton afford to vote "NOLICENSE"?

STRIKE OUT THE BOTTOM LINE OX EACH BALLOT PAPER. (Published by arrangement.)

Present with DefiPosition. No-license. ciency. £ s. a. £ s. d. £ p. d. Hates . . 2S9 12 9 40 0 0 249 12 9 Rent - of British Hotel . 175 0 0 60 0 0 115 0 0 Licenses . 3S0 0 0 — 380 0 0 ■Gas co) isumed . 309 0 0 100 0 0 200 0 0 Total XI.H4 12 9 £200 0 0 £9-M 12 ,9