Wou, T.N.G.

No More Licenses for Wou, T.N.G.

Prom Our Own Correspondent

Rabaul, July ’2O.

WAU received a back-hander the other day in the local Licensing Court when Judge Phillips, as Chief Li censing Commissioner, told an applicant for a conditional permit, under the Liquor Ordinance, that two hotel licenses and a club license were quite sufficient for the mountains gold-town.

Two objectors appeared, to point out that the hotel business in Wau was on the wane. One said that the business had gone off by one-third since he took over the management in 1937, and his takings daily were under £2O.

Although counsel for the applicant pointed out that, with the construction of the Salamaua-Wau road, there natur ally would be an increase in business, this optimism did not impress the Commis sioner. It was admitted, however, that the opening of a guesthouse had been in strumental in lowering lodging rates at one of the hotels, which found it neces sary to come into line in order to get back the business.

It was stated that a big firm had a monopoly of the hotel business in Wau; but one of the hotel managers said he was not forced to buy from that firm he only did so because that firm was the best market in which to buy.

Personally, I do not see what differ ence it makes, whether there are two or twenty licenses in a town; the same amount of drinking will go on. The mar gin of risk lies with the publican, in getting the business, not with the public in drinking. And a little competition is the life of the trade —not the strife of trade, as some would have us believe.

That’s what we really want in New Guinea—competition.