LICENSEES CONFIDENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18333, 24 February 1923, Page 10

LICENSEES CONFIDENT.

HOTEL LEASES APPRECIATE. I . „—- i PROMISE OF LEGISLATION. I [BY GRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CHRISTCHURCH. Friday. Since the last licensing poll there has been a large number of transfers of Teases of hotels in and around Christchurch and a marked appreciation in the values of goodwills. It is evident that liquor -interests regard the x tenure of the trade as much more secure than they did before the vote on the licensing issue was taken in December. Many hotelkeepers are not disposed to discuss the position, though the opinion was freely expressed that some of the goodwills were too high. "Some of the new men are likely to get their fingers burned,'' was how one man expressed it. It was further stated that one large brewing . concern is showing a pronounced disposition to quit its interests in hotels. "There may be a special significance in this," it was stated, "in view of the announcement that was made when the Licensing Commission presented its report at the last session of the previous Parliament to the effect that it was considered that if the recommendations of the commission were carried out, there was a reasonable chance of doing away with the system of 'tied houses' and goodwills." Several, hotelkeepers said that one reason why they regard the trade as being on a much firmer foundation than it was is because of the—reply made by the Prime Minister to a deputation which waited upon him from the New Zealand Moderate League just prior to the last election. One passage of Mr. Massey's reply is as follows: "If prohibition were not carried, there would be a Licensing Bill next session with the object of putting the liquor trade on a more satisfactory, footing than it has occupied for many years. ' It was obvious that the interpretation of Mr. Massey's statement is a fairly wide one in the hotel business. One man seemed convinced that it meant that the licensing poll is to be done away with. Others hoped so. "It is not likely that any attempt will be made to abandon the licensing poll upon the part of the Government," said a prominent member of *the Prohibition Party. "The main question agitating the prohibitionists is the State control issue on the ballot papers at polls. Our party will ask that this issue be eliminated, and this will leave the question to be decided by electors as "wet' or 'dry.' If will not do this, then it is the present intention of the Prohibition Party to ask Chat voting on the .three issues be based on a preferential system. We are confident that with this system, the country would carry prohibition."