IN ADELAIDE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 834, 1 March 1906, Page 24

IN ADELAIDE.

The news that in Adelaide and suburban districts reduction has been carried in five out of six of these at the recent local option poll will not occasion much surprise. It was a foregone conclusion that some houses would have to go, this end no doubt being attained with the aid of many in the trade, who could plainly see that Adelaide and its suburbs were over-stock-ed with hotels. It is strange, however, that Adelaide, with its 126 hotels to a population of 45,000 persons, has voted continuance. The number of hotels to each of the five suburban districts that have voted reduction are not to hand, but if they are supplied with hotels in the same ratio as the city, then the reduction vote comes as no surprise. And it must be remembered that the hotels in that town are not nearly such fine buildings as those

of like business in our leading New Zealand towns. The Act giving notice that a referendum would be taken this year was passed 15 years ago; the issues to be, whether the number of licenses be reduced by one-third or by one-sixth, or to remain as at present. Which of the two former issues have been carried has not as yet become known to us in New Zealand, ir the Act mentioned as having been passed so long ago, it was decided that should reduction be carried no compensation would be paid for loss of license, the lengthy notice given being considered in lieu of compensation.