MUNICIPAL CONTROL OF LIQUOR TRADE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10508, 21 December 1911, Page 5

MUNICIPAL CONTROL OF LIQUOR TRADE.

[To The 'Editor.] , Sir, — Tihe* following are' mv s,ugigjes.it ions fcr a system of municipal control of the l'iquor trade: — x Uijit the Eorough) piurchase, or rent, a building fpr ithe sale of liquor. The building to be used as- an open, biaiv. „ The profits derived from the sa.le of lcquo-F, ai'tejv expense?,, etc., are to lbs paid into tihe. .Borough fftinds, for ; thte'reduction \of 'rates, or for'improwxneaite in the Borough. ... - The Borough to hiave full cpntivl of tlie sale cf jiquor, and appoint a manager, etc. 'lihie manger to be piad a good salary, and ,be instructed to abolish' "shouting." In the event of the manager serving a man so that lie becomes intoxicated, to lie a.t once dismissed. No bonus ti. be paid' the manager on tlie profits.

/ That the Borougli appoint men on the Cbuneclli to see that the bar is properly conducted, by nilies-, etc., *.o be dr'awtti up for tiiat purpose. That no side room or recesses be inclul »1 in the building. The sale of liquor to be confined to the bar. In tinevent of any customer becoming : a nuisance, or abusing the .system, that he be prevented from entering the "building. ■ It is. a wel'l-known. fact that iho good-will paid for an hotel under the old system had to be paid for by tlw sale of liquor. Under municipal control this would be avoided... As the manager will not be paid by results, there wild 1 be no incentive for him. to sell drink to excess. If a good conscientious manager be employed, \there will be no,excess, of drinkiag;' as bedaig in. charge of the bar, and not being directly a gainer by Hie sale of liquor,, he could absolutely check drunkenness as far as his I sir was ooncenied. '

(Every ratepayer i ; n the Borouiglli woivlld be a shareholder, and therefore wouM see for bis own irite»-jsfc that the bar was properly conducted. Sly grog selling would disappear, as no ratepayer would encourage it, as it would be detrimental to' his interest to do so'. My object in doing tliis is to do awvay wdtlh "party" feeling, to iu away with dininkeniness, and supu'y a legiitimiate demand. > And I avi my pi'toihiibitioni&t friends- to take a broadHminded rie-w of this matter, amd assist by. sTiggeatian* to carry out tbis scheme.— l am, '»ts.-, ALFRED DEAL.' Rien.al'.Sr.t«»t, Mastwtan.