LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

North Otago Times, Volume C, Issue 13183, 12 October 1914, Page 1

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

BURY THE HATCHET. Sir.—T. H. Mathiesou, in answer to my letter of October oth, says that as I havo only then Patriotic Fund amounts credited to tlie License and; the No-liconsc parties on hearsay, the matter is,not worth bothering about. But this |s not hearsay. The Licensed Victuallers' Association gave over, £4BO, as a body, and as private individuals well over £2OOO, in Otago alone. Re nolicense, no liquor. What I did say 'was, if Mr.Mathicspn or his party'.would take steps to. prevent liquor coming into no-license districts I lvould'help them, and 1 will still-do so. How about approaching the'.■Government about our own town,'. Now, if they are sincere, is thcir'ciiaiice, He objecting to Clause 0, Mr i\{Hthicson saysjie would not put a man's suit on a boy. Not being good at conundrums,' nor. a tailor, I do not see the point. He Mr Adams:—Woul I Mr Mathieson tell us what Bill lie drew up J Also, was there not any lawyer in Wellington who could do it without going to Diincdiu.for one/ Mr Matliicson's questions re my private business are rather personal. 1 'wonder he did not ask what 1 have for breakfast, or how much liquor I take, but-all the same 1 will gratify his curiosity. ' R'i losing £;i000; I refused £11.1)00 for the Queen's Hotel under license, and could only get £BOOO under no-licciiso when, that was just carried, I have spent about £750 on it since and now could get a good price. I refused./£lO per week, and £1,700 for the furniture, under license, and have let it under no-lic-ease for £9 10/- and lost £Boo,ou th.i sale of my furniture. If Mr Mathiesou will ask nnyoiio that knows he will find that these liguros are correct, 1 would also like to say that I held a license for twenty-two years and never put by more than £IOO a year, and run prove it by'taking an average. '

Now for general information, and Mr Mathiesou in particular,! will give a few figures. These are the rates paid on some hotels under license in 1894, and under no-license in-1014, (The first figures are license; the second no-lic-ense), Northern ami Royal £M each, £l2 1/JO; decrease £2O 18/2 each. Criterion, £4O 0/-, £l.,' l 5/2; decrease £27 0/10. Empire, £57 10/-, £2; i .18/9; decrease £,'i;i l!/;i.'Queen's, £4l 12/-; £47 Hi/4; increase £0 4/4. ] would take it as a favour if Mr Alat|iicson gave us figures for the last year of license and he will hud it worse for uo-licensc. J. would also like to say some of the above places are let for a fourth of what they were under license, so 1 think Mr Mathiesou will have to.be a juggler of figures to make a good case of it. As T am very busy on my farm just now 1 want all my spare time to read the war news, so this is my last letter on this subject—l am, etc, O.R.WISE,