ASHBURTON DEFENDED.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8787, 15 April 1907, Page 3

ASHBURTON DEFENDED.

Per Press Association

Ashbukton, April 1-1.

Forty-six business men and firms in Ashburton, haying had it brought to their notice that the borough is at present being maligned throughout New Zealand, desire, in order to preserve the good name ot the town and for the accurate information of those at a distance, to state the following facts, which are within their own knowledge as being true in every particular. They “do not wish to express any opinion upon the vexed question of license or no-iicense, but deem it necessary that the exact truth about the condition of the town should be made public man authoritative manner. Their desire j in making this statement is to defend Ashburton against careless and reckless assertions ca’culatod if uncontradicted to do harm to the progress and prosperity of the town ” (1) The growth of the town since 1902 has been steady and uninterrupted. This is shown by the vnluaI tions, which (in spite of a drop of .£IO,OOO in the rateable value of licensed houses iu 1903) have iucreased from ,£22,613 in in 1902 to £30,(179 in 1907. (2) The number ;of places occupied as business premises has largely increased, and there is not a single shop remaining vacant ■in the business area. (3) The annual reports of the local branch of the N.Z. Co-operative' Association which opened up retail departments in 1902, show that sales of merchandise have greatly increased, being .£33,210 iu 1902, compared with £52,5G7 in the year ending 31st May, ,1906, an increase iu volume per annum. (1) The displacement of business as shown above would lead ah enquirer to expect a decrease’ olsew-here, particularly as so many businesses have! been able to maintain, and in many cases largely to increase our turnover, thus proving conclusively that the total volume of business done in town, baa largely increased during the last few years. (5) Ashburton is, in short, in as sound a position commercially to-day as at any period in its history and any statement which implied otherwise is recklessly contrary to fact. We have every confidence in the future of the town and protest against the unfounded rumours which are being so actively circulated.