WETTER THAN EVER

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16301, 7 April 1927, Page 2

WETTER THAN EVER

DRINK FLOWS' TO CANBERRA. CANBERRA, March 19.. Canberra is "wetter" now than ever before. Liquor is easy to obtain and in hostels, messes and workers' camps 'week-end liquor parties are frequent. At some of these, disgraceful scenes have been enacted. In a recent drunken affray at one camp, a workman was stabbed to death, and another \tas srtrio'uslv injured by a blow from a bottle".. * .. " ..-..'. Residents are becoming alarmed at the turn pi events, and they are de. raanding tho proposed local option poll at the earliest possible opportunity. They say that the only solution will be the granting of licenses under strict and wise supervision. \ At present liquor is obtained through threo channels. Firstly, by regular purchases at Qnmhbeyan for home consumption ; secondly by placing bulk orders with the liquor, travellers from Cioulbnrn and .Sydney, who are regularly goihtr through the,Territory: third, by buying from sly-grog dealers ill the Federal Territory itself. These dealers,' despite recent heavy fines, and the threat of confiscation, of all stocks seized, are flourishing. They get their supplies wholesale from Sydney. 'Queanbeyar. has four hbtels already, and another is in course of erection. They are valued at approximately £22iO(X) to £25,000, but rioue will be sold until after the Duke's visit.

. A most formidable* rival to these hotels.is tlio refreshment room at the Queahbeyan station. There the bar is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., with tho exception of threo slack hours during the ciav. Liquor is cheaper at the station'than it is in tIV hotels, and every evening, between live and six, and*all day on Saturday, the bar is crowded.

The station yard is filled with the cars of thirsty'Canberra residents, Who have conic to collect their stocks. As a result of this enormous trade, the status of this refreshment room, has been raised three grades on the official railway list during the last twelve months.