A FAILURE.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12398, 13 November 1908, Page 3

A FAILURE.

ASHBURTON UNDER NO LICENSE. '(To the Editor of "N.Z. Times.") . Sir,— "The License Question" is now the all-absorbing topic ', and during an extended visit to the North Island, I have, been repeatedly asked as to its effects in Ashburton, where no license has existed for over five years. "Having been in business there for nearly nine years I. have no hesitation in 'Stating that it is a failure both morally, socially, and ' financially. As you are doubtless aware, it is the centre of a large and wealthy farming": community, and was, under license, ono of- the finest inland' towns in the Dominion, being backed up.'- by all classes, who were proud of their town, and the weekly, or - bi-weekly visits of the farmers, their wives,' families and employees (within a radius of twenty-six miles), who purchased their household requirem<eHts were a considerable source of' revenue to the numerous, small retailers, who thus shared in the general prosperity. .Accommodation was good, and geniality reigned, but now a different State' "bf /affairs rules v under • No' License. Now the town is carefully avoided except by those who are compelled to transact business , "there. Farm labourers and others' who : after i spell 'in the country:' were "in the habit of spending a holiday in town and replenishing their stock of clothing, etc.', now .'visit other places; and in many instances Ashburton benefits ; only to the extent of a packet of ciirarettes. ':.:'■■'. "--■'- -Accommodation is, as a rule, of an inferior description, and as boarding houses are under no supervision whatever, no effort is made to make visitors comfortable, and women arid children are scarcely tolerated. Commercial travellers,; too, complain bitterly of the falling-off of trade, and I state without fear of contradiction that' the majority of retail businesses are now, and "have teen, in the market for a considerable period, which in itself proves "the disastrous results and the -extent' no ck e ss Se a ff ected that' particular ;■ . Again, in 1903, the town was mainly responsible for. the drastic change, .but in 1906 it reversedthe votes by over one thousand," another proof of the failure. ■ No license does not prohibit the use of liquor, but encourages its consumption by practically granting a bottle license to all classes irrespective of age or sex, and the Parliamentary returns of liquor introduced into Ashburton in wholesale quanti,ties in comformity of the law (outside of the quart of spirits, or one gallon ot beer per diem) represents . a ..huge .sum. of. moneys expended outside of the town. , .Sly grog selling is rampant", and ;liquqr of inferior Quality is dispensed. --.. f' 1 " 0 ™ a financial point of view it is detrimental to retailers especially and encourages monopolies by. induc--ing/.large; limited : liability companies to., extend ; their branches and swallow up small' institutions.'' . :': .A floating population 'is the mainstay of any town, and requires < encouragement, as the local' spending power is only normal, and extras' are derived from the visitors, who demand and en]oy good accommodation i-and freedom to eat and drink what they please without. feeling as if the Matter ;were . stolen.; .- ,•■'■■) ; ■■„ •;...-', .- X know a youth" who" is now 20 years of age who; has turned- out a confirmed drunkard'; ; and -another -of fifteen, years who was " arrested for helpless drunkenness. ;A youriglman of ; convicted" for theft, admitted being under the influence, and was not aware of what he had done. .:■;■*■ ;.-■' There are instances r.tbo numerous to ■imentibri' in detail of thos"e 'who were not in the habit of frequenting hotels, but who. i;now neglect' their homes and businesses owing to the numerous temptations s ' placed -■? in their way which did not exist' under the jopen ! bar. - - . : ,' In- making this statement I have not attempted ■to psuht or 'distort;, but have- given a true and faithful account of what ■ I- knpw" to.be correct I arii, etc., '. . J. -W. .MALCOLMSON, V Late , Man ager ' Faiffieid Freezing : ■ __. ; .Works, Ashburton. " Wellington, November 10th.