NO-LICENSE IN ASHBURTON.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 43387, 20 October 1908, Page 3

NO-LICENSE IN ASHBURTON.

[To the Editor.]

Sib,—ln certain of tbe weekly newspapers appear statements by the liquor Eirty on the alleged failure of Noicense in New Zealand, In Ashburton, according to these statements, business is bad, etc., etc. Let us look at some of the facts. In 1902, under license, the rateable values of Ashburton Borough was £22,613; in 1905, under No-License, £25,081 ; in 1908 £28,128. The rateable value of Hampstead Town district, wherein are situated the cottage homes of many Ashburton workers, was in 1902 £66,068; in 1905 £100,015; in 1908 £139,705. The figures for the Upper Ashburton Road District were thus : 1902 £758,089 ; 1907, £1,096,611. Allenton Ward, a suburb of Ashburton, showed the following results: 1902, £63,289 ; 1907, £123 652. The business •f the Ashburton Permanent Building and Investment Society increased as follows: 1902, total loans at end of year £69,154 ; new loans during tbe year £21,774; deposits, £45,775. 1905: £80,823, £15,790, £54,366. 1908 : £111,885, £35,110, £78,888. This is a town in which, we are assured by the liquor party that trade is bad and business people are eager to leave. Tested by the business transactions of a large Ashburton mercantile institution, the results are these : Sa’e* of merchandise, average per annum during 1901 and 1902, £39,138 ; average per annum during 1906 and 1907, £54,808, These figures ought to prove to all business people tbe value of No-license. They also ought to give a flat contradiction to some of the untrue statements, so industriously circulated by the license party.—l am, etc., No-License. Te Aroha, October 17th, 1908.