NO RUSH FOR LIQUOR.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3368, 22 December 1919, Page 5

NO RUSH FOR LIQUOR.

""“.°““" . STOCKS BELOW NORMAL. _ ‘ THE TRADE OUTLOOK. V CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 20. There appears to be plenty of con- . fidence in Christchurch by supporters , of continuance that there is to be no change, for it his gatherecl that there has been no great rush by householders to get in} early and secure stockguof wines and Spirits. A Sun representa- . tive was informed that stocks of wines and spirits are rather below normal,_ andsnialler than they were at the time » of the referendum in April. Despite - shipments on «the water, it is estimated that supplies, in the event of prohibition being carried, would not in any way nieet the'dé'iiland§'}»‘.A;-As far as can." be ascertained,’;.;goo‘d3 pqu‘a‘l_it_v _Co.ntin-. éntal ._winc-S at present ai"e_, in" C short; snpply; VV:hisky “is»'Efia;irl§' pl'enPtifl_ll, f-aii' suppiiéé- 3of"VSeotchial'e on’ the water. An impression“ exists that -miich of the whisky noiv ‘awaiting shipment.’ from America, .anfl\}?fhicll must by law}

b'e"cleared by January, may come to‘ this Dominion. This is‘ not so. These supplies consist of “young” liquor, manufactured dui-ing' the past." year or so, and legislation was passed in the Dominion last. session prohibiting the importzLtio_n of Whisky under three‘ years of age. Good French brandy is difficult to ‘obtain. If importers sent out urgent 3'orders to Scotland for whisky, it is difi‘icul't- to say whether they would,- be ‘filled. Big manufac-_ turers are in eifect, rationing the colon_ies, and migh'«t. not feel disposed to disturb the proportion allowed the Doniinion. They themselves have not large stocks, 1501- they "have not been manufacturing during the war. A ' Just prior to fire recent referendum many men bought large stocks, in some cases almost a lifetinle’s supply.

-. Brewers, in most cases,‘ send out their produc.t soon -after -manuftacture. If Prohibition were carried they could manufacture right up to June 30, and possibljv they would keep hotels fully supplied. "Unitil t.hen_. sp'il=it3s mid wines. -of course, could advance in price to a. much greater extent, and- beer and wine, and spirit merchants generally would be able to wind, up businesses at a profit. through the ‘- ‘gh prices they .would secure for their stocks. 3 In the case of brewers, the" situation Jmight be somewhat difl°erent. but if ‘ the three brewery companies quoted on .the Stock Excliange in -flip Dominion, which are all in Christchurch, had to be wound up owing to the advent of prohibition, their shareholders would not be likely to lose. as Christchurch has large reserves, besides other resources in the shape. of properties. ' I)UN’"EDIN. Dec. 20. To a. Star reporter. Mr Arthur Paape, organiser for the Otag-0 Licensed Vituallcrs’ Association. said: “I think that a win fior continuance is now assured, and that a majority of 5000 is a conservative estimate. Of the 1000 soldiers’ vote. continuance or State Control is certain to get three~ fourths. and with regard to the 2000 seamen ’s votes the same thing applies, Anioiig the large number of absent voters I think we can rely upon a considerable majority» for people traveliling in no-license lareas know the inferior conditions of accommodation 01)itaining where no-license. is in force.”