PROHIBITION MEANS BANKRUPTCY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1298, 29 November 1911, Page 8

PROHIBITION MEANS BANKRUPTCY.

FACTS CONCERNING MASTERTON. A MASTERTON BUSINESS MAN. NOT AFRAID TO SPEAK OUT. In a letter to llio "Manawatu Daily Time?," Mr. 11, Smith, manager of Colo's Drapery Company, who arc c.losine lip shortly, writes:— I have lived in Masterton for the last eighteen months, and shall Ijo out °f it in less than two months. Thero fore, I have no axo to grind from a business standpoint, and, moreover, as a life-long abstainer, I should like to join my opinion with Mr. Eton's to the effect that NoLicense is bad for this town. Wo giv« our reasons for closing up as "expiration of lease," which statement is true. At the same time, if business was good in the town there is nothing to provent us from renewing the lease or . taking one of the other empty shops, of which there aro plenty to he had, as everyone knows. But, all thins? considered, t.ho expiration of the lease affords us an excellent opportunity of removing our sphere of labour and balance of stock, either to Wellington, or to some other place where prospects art better. . Closer settlement would no doubt improve things, but closer settlement and restoration of would greatly improve things. Masterton will eventually right itself. There is too much money lying in new buildings, etc., for the place to go back altogether, but No-License will not help it along. The following are the bankruptcies r». gistered in Masterton for the three years prior to No-License, and for the thre» years, or nearly three years, during iU existence:— Total In Outsid* filed. Elec. Elee. ISW 3 i 3 IMS 11 6 3 iw u i T ms is en i l-'M 27 17 10 1310 H U 10 *1311 iQ 3 J 'Three months only 3l=t March. Wellington fat the three- months end*{ ulst March, 1511, ind only one bankrupt, Masterton .10, nine of which were m the dry area. L&'t K-eek l meelicz of llaitortM fces!ne== men resolved that Nc-Liceiis.-; ia Masterton had brought e*jmn:eTc:Al stagnation to the torn. It will do the sums in Wellington if yon uil to strike out the bottom liie os. hcth ballot pipers.*