LIQUOR AT CANBERRA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19806, 29 November 1927, Page 9

LIQUOR AT CANBERRA.

A GILBERTI AN SITUATION. STANDING JOKE AT CAPITAL." [FROM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] SYDNEY. Nov. 16. The standing joke at the Federal Capital is its liquor problem. Those, of course, who enjoy the joke with especial zest are the people who, despite the bonedry laws there, always seem to be able, to" slake their thirst, and that of thenfriends, without* going outsido tho territory. As the problem becomes more baffling every day, it is' obvious that the Federal Government will have to tackie it seriously before long. One cannot buy liquor in the territory, certainly not lawfully, but as there is no restriction on the quantity of liquor which may be brought into it, many persons purchase more than they need, which often leads to immoderate indulgence, to put it politely. The position is Gilbertian. Within nine miles of Canberra, along a road which, for its smoothness, is the joy of motorists, and in the little town of Queanbeyan, which, like the violet, would have blushed unseen but for the establishment of the capital at Canberra, there are hotels and to* spare. The effect of the no-licence provision in tho capital territory has simply been' to foster a disproportionate development of bar trade in those hotels, the values of which have, of course, risen enormously. The large weekly and even dailv»exodus of Queanbeyan has another effect which is causing many long business faces at Canberra. It takes away a great deal of the general shopping business which would, ordinarily, be transacted in the capital. The conclusion of the Commission which controls the territory is that the nolicence laws have not only not lessened intemperance, but have led to the opposite effect. The Federal Government is now ' being urged to adopt definitely either I complete prohibition, or a scheme of Government control similar to the Gothenberg system, which eliminates private profit, and which does not 1 allow the publican to wax fat on profits, but allows him merely a salary, without any inducement, from motives of self-interest, to violate tho liquor laws.