What Our Readers Are Thinking

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 38, 14 September 1949, Page 4

What Our Readers Are Thinking

Though their views on all subjects are freely published here because we believe it our duty to uphold the public’s right to freedom of opinion, our correspondents’ opinions are not necessarily shared by this newspaper. PARKING IN BOROUGH Sir, —a recent discussion on the difficulties of finding a handy parking place in Whakatane’s main street, ended by those present naming about twenty businessmen who park outside their own shops or offices all day, plus another lot of unknown people who stay at the Whakatane Hotel and leave their cars there all day. We wondered if the businessmen realised their dependence on the country shoppers? If they do I suggest they park behind their shops, or on the parking area beyond the Rock. A short walk would do them no harm. Country mothers with children especially would appreciate the extra parking room in the main shopping area. Ymirc pfr* COUNTRY MOTHER.

LIQUOR LICENSES Sir, —As your editorial points, out, this proposal depends on whether “the present facilities . . . are sufficiently strained by public demand to warrant their extension.” Supporters have contended mainly for convergence, profits, etc., and have endeavoured to convince us that the proposed two new licenses do not mean additional drinking facilities, one even stating “the Chamber of Commerce has asked for no additional drinking facilities.” It is now clear that to secure the licenses the need for additional drinking facilities must be proved “with facts, rather than opinions and assumptions.” Are supporters now prepared' to reverse their attitude, and come out openly for additional drinking facilities? This calls for factual proof that present facilities are actually inadequate, ' that the existing licenses (5, ■ 1 believe) are unable to cope with the demand. The correspondent who mentions controlling legislation disparagingly should know that such legislation has been necessary only be-, cause of the nature of the traffic concerned. Temperance bodies have no power to legislate; they can, like the drink traffic, only state their case and make relative suggestions.The fact that the Government has acted on some of their suggestions should convince anyone that temperance bodies have a good case to state and fill a very necessary and useful place in our democratic way of life.

Is “Another Democrat” so kindly disposed towards those sensitive folk who want brandy, .but are shy of going to the hotel, that he wants a wholesale license for their sakes? After all, what difference is there between one bottle depot and another? Re agent’s restrictions:- Surely the present agent considered the restrictions and conditions of his license before acquiring' it? Having accepted it he became a party to those conditions. The question in my- last letter remains unanswered: “If two ■ additional licenses do not mean increased drinking facilities, then what are they for?” But correspondents in referring to “profits” hint at the probable answer. Two new licenses surely would be two new sources of profits and dividends. There is no question as to the need of accommodation; public appeals here have brought this home. Some have had to go elsewhere not in search of work, but for a roof. Members of our Chamber of Commerce depend upon residents not only for their prosperity, but also for their very financial existence, so residents should come before passing travellers, tourists and holiday makers. No town can prosper if it cannot accommodate necessary workers and customers. Some correspondents doubt that non-license accommodation is practical. And yet our boarding houses do continue, so they must be operating successfully! As to their charges being prohibitive, well, the,licensed houses charge very much more! So what?

Where Y.M.C.A.’s are established they are doing a most useful work for young men and women forced by circumstances to live away from home and often caught between the high tariffs of the licensed house and the boarding house vacancy they so often cannot find. A centre on these lines would be a real boon in Whakatane, helping to solve other problems as well. The Canberra, the largest hotel in Queensland, accommodates more than 500 guests, more every night than the combined total of any five licensed premises- in Brisbane. Without a license it is now Queensland’s most

successful hotel. A' second “Canberra”, owned and operated by the same Temperance organisation, has been opened in Toowoomba, and has so prospered that another 50 bedrooms are being added. So when, some tell me “It can’t be done without a license”, I just do noft believe them! Finally, our public bodies do not necessarily represent public opinion on this licensing question, as this was not a consideration in their election. I appeal to them to come forward and allow the pub Re to settle this public question in the true democratic way, by vqte. Yours etc., ' DEMOCRAT. (Abridged).