ASHBURTON UNDER NOLICENSE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13877, 15 April 1907, Page 6

ASHBURTON UNDER NOLICENSE

STATEMENT BY BUSINESS MEN. Pta United Phess Association.) . ASHBURTON, April 14. l'prty-six business men and lirn« in Asliburton, "having had it. broujrlit to then- notice that tho borough is at present, being much maligned throughout New Zealand, desire, in order to preservo tho jjood name of the town, and for iho accuratp information of those at » distance, to state tho following facts which are within their own knowledge as bcinjr true in every particular." They "do not wish lo express any opinion upon the vexed question of license or nb-licnnso, but deem it, necessary that the exact truth about Mie condition of the town should bo made public in an authoritative manner. Their desire in making the statemont is to defend Ashburton against careless and reckless assertions calculated, if uncsntradiercd, to do harm to the progress and prosperity of the town." (1) Tho growth of the town since 1802 lias been steady and uninterrupted.' This is shown by valuations '.vhich (in spite of a drop of £1000 in the rateable value of licensed lionsjs in 1903) have increased from £22,613 in 1902 to £26,673 in 1907. (21 The number of places occupied as business premises has larprolv increased, in<l ihere is not a single siiop remaining; vacant in the business area. (3) Tho annual reports of the local branch of the No\y Zealand Farmers' Cooperative Association, which o|ionc<l up retail departments in 1902, show that the sales of merchandise have greatly increased, boin;? £33.210 in 1902, compared with £52,667 in the year ending 31st May. 1905, an increase in voluino of £19,657 per annum. (4) The displacement, of business as shown above would lead an inquirer to expect a. decrease elsewhere, partienlarlv as so many now businesses have been opened since 19G2. We have, however, been able, jo maintain, and in many cases largely to increase, our turnover, thus proving conclusively that the lotal volume of business doiw in the town has lavjjcly increased during the Inst few years. (5) Ashbmton is, in short, in as sound a position commercially to-day as at. any r«riod in its history, and an.v statement which implies otherwise is recklessly eontrnry lo fact. Wo have every confidence in tho future of the town, and' protest against the unfounded rumours which arcbeing so actively circulated.