THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15300, 14 November 1911, Page 6

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY.

A MASTERTON BUSINESS MAN NOT AFRAID TO SPEAK »QUT.

In a letter to the Ifanaw'atu "Daily Times, Mr H. Smith, manager of Cole'* 'Drapery Company, who are closing up shortly, writes:— ■ " •■'

I have lived in Masterton for Che last eighteen months, and ehjJl be out of it in Ice than two months. Therefore I have no axe to grind from a business , standpoint and, moreover. • AS A-LIFt'iLONQ ABBTAIMEK. I should lib to join Juy opinion with Mr Elton's to the effect that NOLICENSE ISt BAD FOR .THIS TOWN. our reasons for closing pp aflt , ' expiration of^leaee, , .' which statement is true.. : At, the

same time, JF BUSINESS WAS GOOD IN THE TOWN THERE IB NOTHING TO PREVENT US

FROM.RENEJVINO THE LEASE OR -TAKING ONE OF THE OTHER,EMPTY' SHOPS; OF WHICH THERE ARE PLENTY ; TO BE HAD 4 ae everyone -,Jriiow«, :Bub, all things considered; the expiration of the lease affords us, an excellent opportunity of removing 'our .'sphere of labour ,and , balance of etocki cither to Wellington, or to some OTHER PLACE WHERE ARE .BETTER. Closer eettloment would no doubt im- ' prove but closer settlement and "RESTORATION OF LICENSE WOULD GREiVTLY- IMPROVE, Maeterton will eventually right itself... Thbre is too mnck , money lying ■in new = buildings, etc., ' for the place to go back ahogether, t BUT NO'LICENSE WILL NOT HELI? IT ALONG. The following are the bankruptcies registered in.Masterton for the three ye&re prior to No-liccnee, and for the three yeaw, or nearly three-yeaw, during:, its existence:— 'Total In Outeide

• Three months only 31st March. ■ Wellington for the throe months ended 31at March; 1911, ; had only one bankrupt, Maeterton 10, NINE OF WHfCH WERE IN THE DRY AREA. '6

fil«d. Elec Elec. "loos . ; . ... '9...: 4 ... 6 .1806 ... ... 11 ... 6 .:. 5, 1907 ... ... 11 ... 4 l ... 7 1908 ... ... 28 ... 20 ...' 8 1909 ...'... 27 ... 17 ... 10 . 1910 ... u. 24 ... 14 ... 10 •1911 ... ... 10 :;...• 9 ... 1