LIQUOR LICENSES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 42, 23 September 1949, Page 4

LIQUOR LICENSES

Sir, —For , some , strange reason your correspondent “Democracy” has chosen to mention by name one of our leading Councillors. This gentleman did a good turn to a stranger and told the truth in an unobtrusive way. We should never permit even the hint of a sneer against a man who is helpful and truthful. If Councillor Warren is lucky, it is because he is possessed of a disposition that urges him to be generous to a stranger in distress. * Men of goodwill will be glad that the district’s reputation for hospitality has been enhanced, by our councillor’s thoughtfulness. Yours etc., B. FAIR. Sir, —I desire to thank Democracy for the able way in which he has brought light to bear on this subject, especially the underlying facts that more licenses do mean additional drinking facilities and that before additional licenses will be granted the need for them must be proved. Some' supporters deny these facts while others seek to prove the' need for more facilities until the position of supporters is not only contradictory but ridiculous. I have long been fully convinced that the six licenses (not five) already in this Borough are more than sufficient to deal with the drinking capacity of Whakatane. without adding two more, making eight. As one with a family to guard against further ravages of the traffic, may I emphatically say it is fully time we woke up! • As a ratepayer I strongly object to this attempt to force increased drinking facilities upon us, and upon those near and dear to us. Yours etc., A MOTHER. Sir,—The grading of our Bay of Plenty hotels is published in theBeacon,'but some hotels are not included. This suggests that they have failed to make the lowest grade for even one star.

The writer has found it necessary to stop at more than one of these Bay of Plenty unstarred hotels and found them definitely far more unsatisfactory than any unlicensed accommodation he has experienced from Northland to South Otago. Our Bay of Plenty also provided the most unsatisfactory unlicensed accommodation in his experience. Just as there is a wide range of licensed hotels ranging from these unstarred (sub-grade?) pubs to the rare 5 star hotels, so there is also a corresponding wide range of unlicensed accommodation.

Building restrictions, labour shortages, etc. have affected both classes of accommodation, but unlicensed accommodation has been subjected to the influence of those who think that it cannot’ be done successfully. And to the policy of “hush, hush,” that endeavours to suppress any facts not favourable to certain interests and. that objects to the presentation of facts proving it is. being done. These would have us leaim nothing from beyond our own shores ! ! Evidence has already been presented showing that openminded Queensland, with all its licensed hotels, welcomes Temperance accommodation, because of its important contribution towards relieving the accommodation problem. Non-essentials sold at wholesale and high prices for necessities can be another deterent.

Many will still agree that on the grounds of accommodation no additional license is necessary or desirable.

Yours etc.,: DEMOCRACY.