NO-LICENSE IN INVERCARGILL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10163, 13 February 1911, Page 6

NO-LICENSE IN INVERCARGILL.

SOME OF ITS EFFECTS. Speaking at Palmerstoii North on Friday last on the effects of No-license in Invercargill, Mr J. J. Wesney said: "Within three months of the poll, a new valuation was made and the values of property had gone up £139,940. The next year there was a 'further increase of £41,420. Another valuation was now being made, and it was stated on good authority that the increased figures would stagger the people. Nearly all the hotel property in, Invercargill had been changed into private hotels and offices, and the rental of these-had increased considerably. The capital value of hotel property to-day was higher than when the bars were open. The story that influenced the ratepayers more than

anything was that the rates would be raised with the closing of the hotels/ When the bars were closed £875 license fees were lost to the Council, but their financial position was so buoyant at the end- of the year that the rate was reduced l-16d in the £. People heard a lot of how much liquor was consumed in Invercargill. For the last year there had been a decrease in the amount of liquor consumed by 1580 gallons, valued at £197. It was hard now that keg parties had been restricted, and the locker system abolished, to get even a smell of liquor in Invercargill."