ASPERSIONS RESENTED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 July 1938, Page 9

ASPERSIONS RESENTED

THE REV. J. DAVIE DEFENDS MASTERTON.

OUR CLEAN AND PROSPEROUS

Patriotism and loyalty should characterise every true citizen, the Rev J. Davie observed in an address at Knox Church on Sunday-last It did not follow, he added, that all patriotic and loyal citizens should think alike, but no true citizen could hear unwarranted and unfounded aspersions cast upon his town without protest. “I hold a public position in this town,” Mr Davie continued, “and in my own branch —that of religion —I, with other religious leaders, am under an obligation to co-operate with all those who direct public affairs and administer justice.” This was election year, he went on to observe, and things were being said about the town, in the interests of the liquor traffic, which should not pass unchallenged. It had been stated to him, Mr Davie went on to observe: — (1) That Masterton was being kept back because all the business was going to Carterton where there were hotels.

(2) That the amount of sly-grog selling in Masterton was enormous and was a disgrace to the town and the police. (3) That all the business people of Masterton, with one or two exceptions, want the hotels opened again. “With regard to (1)” said Mr Davie, “why is it, if progress has been retarded in Masterton, that it is the only town in the Wairarapa that has made any real growth? It has doubled its population in sixteen years. Business has increased, with small book debts in comparison with licensed towns. I made inquiry at the Post Office and found that there is an ever-increasing number of Savings Bank depositors and deposits, and the staff to deal with the Savings Bank branch has had to be increased. The Public Trust informed me that an ever-increasing volume of business is passing through their office, last year being a record year. They have not a single house available for letting. All are occupied, and this irr spite of the fact of the big building programme carried out by the Government and private enterprise. “In regard to (2) I referred the matter of sly-grog selling to the SeniorSergeant of Police, and he assured me that exhaustive special watch lhas been kept and he is satisfied that the amount of liquor coming into Masterton illicitly is negligible. “In regard to (3), that the business people with one or two exceptions want the hotels back, I found the very opposite to be the case. I spent a whole day going up Queen Street from door to door. Some of the owners were not in; two refused to answer, and of the rest only three people wanted the hotels back and thought their business would be increased thereby. All, other than cash businesses, said their book debts would be increased and only two thought the presence of hotels would improve the town. Every one of them admitted that the town was clean and prosperous. One man, whose business takes him far afield in the North Island, says he does not know a cleaner and more prosperous looking town. Another reports that travellers often remark that it is a pleasure to do business in our town. Still another, who has been in business in every Dominion of the Empire, said there was no better place than Masterton for solid business. He is a man of a roving disposition and keen on good business and said: ‘I know of no better place. If I did, I would go there.’

“Honour to whom honour is due,” Mr Davie concluded. “We owe a big debt of gratitude to the vision, forethought and labours of those who laid the foundations and built up the prosperity of our town and district —the founders of our Trust Lands Trust, our educational institutions, our orphanages, our hospitals, our parks and playing fields. Whatever our opinions on no-licence or other matters of social reform, let us at least be fair and honourable.”