NO-LICENSE AND UNEMPLOYMENT.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 1008, 1 July 1909, Page 20

NO-LICENSE AND UNEMPLOYMENT.

£350,000 WORTH OF PROPERTY DESTROYED BY LOCAL OPTION.

The No-License and Reduction votes now given effect to, involve the

“ Trade ” in the Dominion in losses aggregating considerably over a quarter of a million and said in some

quarters to be close upon £350,000. In view of the prevailing distress and unemployment, there can be no questioning the fact that this wanton destruction of property by the so-called “ popular vote,” will have a seriously restrictive effect upon the Labour market. There can be no possible encouragement to those engaged in the Licensed Victualling trade to erect better or more commodious houses, than those now in existence, when a capital expenditure of £12,000 can be made unremunerative (as in the case of one of the closed hotels at Masterton) by the popular vote. And it seems to us that until the law is made more staple and the conditions under which the Trade is compelled

to conduct its operations are made more remunerative. Population is fleeing from our shores, and capital

is being removed from the country, which is unlikely to return to it until vaner counsels prevail in the making >and administration of our laws. At present we appear to be fast returning to the spirit of the Middle Ages and the counsels that gave rise to the old Sumptuary and Curfew laws. It is a common remark now-a-days amongst visitors to this country that ‘‘New Zealand is a good place to live out of. Your country is all right,” they say, but your laws are too much. You interfere far more than is necessary with the liberty of the subject.”