PROHIBITION IN ASHBURTON.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8400, 15 April 1907, Page 6

PROHIBITION IN ASHBURTON.

By Telegraph—Press Association. I ASHBURTON, April 14. Forty-six business men and firms in | Ashburton having had it brought to their notice that the borough was at present being much maligned throughout New Zealand, desire in order to preserve the good name of the town and for the accurate information of those at a distance to state the following facts which are within their o-.vn knowledge as being true in every particular. They do not wish to express any opinion upon the vexed question of license or nolicense, but deem it necessary that the exact truth about the condition of the town should be made public in an authoritative manner; their desire in making the statement is to defend Ashburton against careless and reckless assertion calculated, if uncontradicted, to do harm to the progress and prosperity of the town:—(1) The growth of the town since 1902 has beer, steady and uninterrupted. This is shown by valuations, which (in spite of a drop of £IO,OOO in rateable value of licensed houses in 1903) have increased from £22,613 in 1902 to £26,679 in 1907. (2) The number of places occupied as business premises has largely increased, and there is not a single shop remaining vacant in the business area. (3) The annual reports of the local branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Co-operativa Association, which opened up retail departments in 1902, show that sales of merchandise have greatly increased, being £33,210 in 1902, compared with £52,8G7 in the year ending May 31st, 1906, an increase in volume of £19,657 per annum. (4) The displacement of business, as shown above would lead the enquirer to expect a decrease elsewhere, particularly as so many new businesses have been opened since 1902._ We have, however, been able to maintain and in many cases largely to increase our turnover, thus proving conclusively that the total volume of business done in the town has largely increased during the last few years. (5) Ashburton is in short in as sound a position commercially to-day as at any period in its history, and any statement which implied otherwise is recklessly contrary to the facts. We have every confidence in the future of the town, and protest against unfounded rumours which are being so actively circulated.