Hikurangi Reaction To Beer Price increase

Northern Advocate, 29 November 1947, Page 6

Hikurangi Reaction To Beer Price increase

A PARTIAL boycott against the price of beer has been instituted at Hikurangi. As less than a dozen men have decided that a’“handle” is not worth an extra penny it is not considered likely that the demand will decrease to any appreciable extent.

Increased freights have raised the price of beer at Hikurangi and a few men, formerly miners but now employed by the Public Works Department, have decided that they will not ,pny 7d. This attitude is not shared by other or other hotel patrons and the Hikurangi Hotel licensee (Mr E. W. (Clarke) said this morning that he was not worried about the position. There is no indication that the resentment of the few will spread to the many, no serious attempt at an organised boycott having been made. If the Hikurangi mine had still been operating it is possible that the reaction would have been different. The rise from 6d to 7d has not caused any opposition at Hukerenui and Towai, the only other district hotels to be affected. At Kamo the price of a '‘handle’' has been 7d ever since the price was first increased, in accordance with the Whangarei price. NO INCREASE TO 8d Allegations that an increase to 8d per glass in the price of beer was to be sought from the Price Tribunal by the Licensed Victuallers’ Association were without foundation, said the general secretary of the national council ,of the licensed trade (Mr Percy Cole) at Wellington today. He added that at no time had any consideration been given by the trade to increase further the price of beer. The allegation was reported to have .been made by the secretary of the West Coast Trades Council (Mr T. Pratt) addressing national trade union at Wellington.