THE PRICE OF BEER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22366, 13 September 1934, Page 10

THE PRICE OF BEER

TO THE EDITOR.

Sib, —For ways that are dark one must say to “ Brewery Shareholder ” that . a financial pocket bears the richest fruit. He is lamentably peeping through dividend spectacles, for, notwithstanding. the fact that certain hotelkeepers arc given credit for six weeks, I know of cases in Dunedin where cash lias been demanded before beer would be delivered. To “ Brewery Shareholder ” this appeals, as it ensures the receipt by him of his 10 per cent, dividend, whereas, if, on the other hand, some accounts were not paid, he would be cut out of some easy capital. I would like to state that I am in no way connected with “ the trade,” but enjoy my glass of beer after work, and I do not worry if the publican is an ex-jockey or ex-policeman, as long as he treats me reasonably. I would be loth to saj', however, that “ Brewery Shareholder would not accept any information that was offered on a racecourse by an exjockey, provided the tip was as good a dividend-payer as New Zealand Breweries. Not all hotelkeepers are as disgruntled as our friend would make out, and I presume to say that were hotelkeepers as weak as he contends they are hia profits would not be so big. He proceeds to refer to profits made by hotelkeepers, but overlooks the pronounced statement that New Zealand Breweries' profit last year was approximately £87,000. And what of the advances, etc., to hotelkeepers? The “sticks of furniture, as he terms it, were made the security, and high rates of interest were extracted on them. This, of course, is in keeping with the vision of “ Brewery Shareholder” and with his dividend desires. I cannot compliment him on his reply. First, his abuse of hotelkeepers was illtimed and would not bear investigation. As a defence of the brewing monopoly it fell far short of being impressive.—l am, etc., One Who Knows. September 11.