Deputation to Administrator.
Àt 9,15 a.m. on Friday, the, 6th instant, a deputation consisting of His “Worship the Mayor (Cr. D. C. Watts), Cr H. Nelson, and Messrs. Collins, Balding, Reade, and Sibbaid, waited upon the Administrator, (Dr. J. A. Gilruth) in connection with the increase in the price of liquor.
The Mayor, in introducing the deputation, stated that the hotels were being run in opposition to the public ~ interests, instead of for the public benefit, and that the prices charged all along had been excessive, and thepresent increase was unwarranted.
The Administrator stated that the increase in the cost of’beer since July was 11/7 per case.
Cr. Nelson : Has the price fixing board adjusted rates ?
The Administrator: No; the Supervisor of Hotels’ recommended prices.
Cr. Nelson : What justification was there for the increase ?
The Administrator: The increase, of 8d per bottle-11/7 per case in cost.
Cr. Nelson stated that the public had lost faith in Commissions as constituted in the past, and asked if theAdministrator was prepared to submit the matter to a Commission – upon which public men were represented or enquiry.
The Administrator remained silent. Cr. Nelson pointed out that State enterprise should not be run at such enormous profits. The Department should pay the excise, which it could well afford to do.
Cr. Nelson: Would you favour a recommendation for the municipilisa tion of the hotels, with the profits to be spent in the improvement of the town ?
The Administrator : No, the Government would not be inclined to do so.
The Mayor : Owing to the enor- mous profit they are making ?
Mr. Balding cited figures from recent commission (Mutt & Jeff ) showing a profit of £45,000 in three years and contended that money made in a Town should be spent there.
The Administrator doubted the figures as quoted, pointing out that beer was l/6d per bottle before the hotels were taken over.
The Mayor : Beer was 1/- per bottle before the taking over of the hotels. (Other members of deputation supported Mr. Watts.)
Cr. Nelson: The object to be arrived at is the reduction of the present price of beer to l/3d per bottle.
The Administrator : No chance.
Mr Balding produced cutting from a Southern newspaper dated 27/9/’18showing that Brewers had increased price of bulk beer from l/6J-d to 2/- and bottled beer from 7/-~ to 7/11d per dozen and that Price Fixing Board had approvad of Licensed Victuallers increasing juices to same extent but no more. What has Price Fixing Board clone in regard to Darwin ?
The Administrator : The matter has not been before them
Cr.’Nelson : In view of hotels being a public utility the public should beconsulted before any action was taken (such as present increase) which would affect public
The Administrator : I know nothing about matter
Cr. Nelson : Why can the Liquor Store sell bottles at 1/6 while bars charge 1/9 ?
The Administrator : The cost of extra handling has to be made up
Cr. Nelson : But the hotels also get an additional 2/- per case for empty bottles, which the Store does not get. (So that hotels get 14/ per case more.)
The Mayor referred to the dis- advantage to the general public in not being able to get a bottle of beer over the bar.
The Administrator : The idea is to curtail drinking.
The Mayor : Interference with the convenience of citizens will not stop sly grog selling, but, on the contrary, will add to it and the general public made to suffer.
The Administrator ; Unfortunately that is so.
The Mayor stated that 6 o’clock closing in Victoria (be was informed by a member of the Police Force) was a curse to the Police Force owing to the tremendous increase in sly grog selling.
Mr. Reade : Is not the Government allowed the usual 1%\ discount onpurchases ? Or is it allowed when – fixing buying price ?
The Administrator: No discount is allowed.
Mr. Collins : Would you ‘consider submitting the question to the Price Fixing Board ?
The Administrator : No ; it has nothing’to do with the Board.
Mr. Balding : The present profits are unwarranted. What would you consider a fair percentage on cost ?
The Administrator contended that the profits were low.
Cr. Nelson ; The Victoria Hotel has to be carried by the other hotels.
The Administrator : No, the accounts are kept separately.
The Mayor : But are they adjusted at the end of the year ?
In connection with the opening of the Victoria Hotel bar to the general public the Mayor contended that if there were more hotels there would be less excessive drinking.
Cr. Nelson: Yes, through bad administration.
Mir. Collins: ‘I* as the v5eW of %o publia) “tabïngi înto account the ex- cessive profits ofc” the tpas* three’ years (as showta b\y\ ”ComïnissîonVj figures), íí all “thei hotels Wefe made sel&sulpporting! there Would be no» justification %> even rnaÄitafti ,rt»he recent pirices. I < *.
The Administrator: You consider; the only way *o ¡make **he Victoria« pay would be to open thje bar *»& the general ipiublic.
Cr. Nelson: The Vilorta should be turned into a Wg lounge bar, and the sale of liquor would pay for the upkeep of the boarding Wousej, instead of the ipdBlfc havfbg *o $>a¡y\ far i*. ‘b » .
The Administrator: I have 1thloug|hlfc seriously of leasSngi the Victoria as a b’oarding house. I I
Cr*. Nelson: W^U.ypu îeas$ïhe V|> toria Hotel. ‘wtf’h bar* to ?he Coun- cil,, the profita accruing therefrom* to b’e spent in Imlprovemen^s ia th,e
town? i
The Admirfstrator :No. I Would no** recomimei”»* it
Cr. Nelson: Would you spend! profits in Snprovemenfs?
The Adrni Sstrator: I have’ in vifew the building of worang men’s! hotaes. t ‘ ‘
Mr. Reade: Will you furnish the people of the N.T. with the figures of the buying cost and landed cost of liquor?
The Administrator : You can get them from Mr. Evans.
M¡r. ‘Balding: The cost of beer is now £2 8s 1d per case.
The Administrator: I cannot say from memory whether the cost is £2 8s 1d per case, but I think it is now £2 16s. I Will enquire as to correctness. The position placed be- fore me was that the price had In- creased 11s 7d per case since July last.
Cr. Nelson: In the event of the statement being correct, are you prepared to make a reduction?
No answer.
The Mayor: If a man wanted to import a case of beer why should not he get it by, paying the Supervi- sor of hotels 5 per cent, instead of having to pay the 35 per cent. which is charged by, the liquor store on their cost prices?
No answer.
Mr. Reade: Why¡ is that while bulk whiskey can be bought at 7s 11d P’er bottle, by the case, the store charges 12s per single bottle?
The Administrator agreed that the price of bulk whiskey was excessive, and stated he would make enquiries as to reason for charging 12s.
Mr. Reade: In view of the exces- sive price of spirits can we inform the public that you are in sympathy with them, and will you state on what terms you will meet them?
The Administrator’ : I am prepared to go into the matter again.
Cr. Nelson : A public Meeting has been arranged for Saturday afternoon. Will you advise us further before then ?
Mr. Sitíbald: As the Excise Duty only accounts for approximately, 4/ of the alleged increase of 11/7d per case on beer, How do .you account for the other 7/7d ?
The Administrator : By the increas- ed cost of packing, bottles, etc.
The interview closed at 10.05 a,m.
Original: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article3293098
