ASHBURTON'S STABILITY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 15 April 1907, Page 2

ASHBURTON'S STABILITY.

A II KIM A" TO ('AUMXIKK. XTATKMKXT IIV TIIK IUSIXKSS CO.MMI'Nr: V. P"r I'ress Association. Ashburton, Api il 11. Korly-si\ hii-jiit'** jiini and linn.- in A?-hlmrton, having hud il. brought \>i ih'ir notice that the borough is al prc--eni lu'in*: much maligned throughout New Zealand. desire, in order Id jirrscnv Ihe jjood name of the town, and htv Mic a-rurale information of tal diM:;n.-e. In Mate llii' following facK

i*.lii h are within their own knowledge a.-. beintr trite in every particular: lir.'y do not wish io express any opinion ttji'in Mil' vexed ipiesiiou of license or noiicense, but deem it necessary tied (he : , '<.el truth about the condition of Motown should be made public in an ani thoiitalive manner. Their desire in ni;t!<inir <i xialenienl is to defend A>lthnrl"ji ajrniiM eaudejs and reckless assertions calculated. if uncontradicted, lo do haiin 1.) the pro.-re.-s and prosperity ot the (own.

(I) Tin l growth of 111;* town since IDiili 11:ibeen steady. and unint. riiiptcu. Tlii-; is shown by tlie valuation-; whiih (in spite nl' a ilio|> of Ci 10,0(1(1 in rateable value of lieenseii houses in 11HKI) have iu<*reascd from .122,(ill! in i!)l>2 to C2li.li7!> in 1111)7. (-) The number of places occupied as business premises has largely increased, anil there is not a single shop remaining vacant in the business area. (.'!) The annual reports of the local branch of Uie .New Zealand fai'mevs Co-operative Association, which opened up retail departs in 1!I02, show that sales of merchandise have greatly increased, being ,C.1.'1,21() in l!)l)2 compared with £52,807 in the year ending 31st May. IDllli, an increase in volume of AJ>,(iin per milium.

(4) 'This displacement of business, as shown above, would lead an enquirer to expect decreases elsewhere, particularly as so many new businesses have been opened since li) 02. We lia-'e, however, been aide to maintain, and in many eases largely to increase, our turnover, thus proving conclusively that the total volume of business done ill the town has largely increased during the last few years,

(5) Ashburton is, in short, ill as sound 11 position commercially to-day as at any period in its history.' and any statement which implied otherwise is recklessly contrary to facts. We have every confidence in the future of {lie. town, and protest aguinst the unfounded rumours which are being so actively circulated.