Letters to the Editor
Gin and Tonic Graham Hutton The Middle East H. Pinner Trouble-Shooting Prof. D. W. Brogan Glyndeboume Food Richard Greet, Dennis L. Bird Betiemanism Herbert van Thal 'The Moon and Sixpence' John Gardner, Patrick Terry The Albert Bridge W. Steeds Rani of Jhansi D. E. Lysaght Fresh Food Jack Merricks Secondary Modern Armon Lewis, Educationalist,
Freda E. Turner
Local Government Secrecy H. Gregory Pearce
GIN AND TONIC
SIR,—My withers are tinwrung by Mr. Charlier's letter on behalf of the National Trade Development Association. Indeed, it strengthens the arguments put forward by Mr. Leslie Adrian and me, and is dis- turbing. No other rebuttal to Mr. Charlier's argu- ments is really needed than those furnished by Mr. Arthur Seldon in his 'turnover' article in The Times on Monday.
First, Mr. Charlier denies what we never stated. Of course many brewers are sensible, give wonder- ful service, see that stocking what may seem like 'competing' drinks sells more of theirs, and generally and genuinely strive to serve what is wanted. Our arrow was aimed at that massive, inert, sub-average bulk of them which is, indeed, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, and letting the best brewers have the victory. The trouble is that in this land the best brewers are not everywhere—least of all every few miles! Nor are they by any means all the biggest.
Secondly, I am astounded at Mr. Charlier's de- fence of the brewers' tight control over their 'locals" managers : namely, that those managers would 'be exposed to' (and succumb to'?) financial temptations from makers of less desirable drinks—'desirable' in the owner-breweri eyes. Surely that would be cor- rected by the trade itself. If a poor manager (who picks him?) succumbs, and stocks unworthy stuff, either he will sell it quickly or get stuck with it. If the latter, his owner knows. If not, it is not so 'un- desirable' to the public. Of what value is an owner- brewer's goodwill if it proves not to be long-con- tinuing? And if some (I repeat, not the best nor all the smallest) of such owners go on thinking of good- will as synonymous with 'closed shops,' a limited range of 'tied' drinks, heavy advertising expenditure, no discretion for local managers, and an obligation on managers to do a lot of 'passing otT'—well, I fore- tell bigger and better mergers, further shrinkage of independent brewers, and lower and lower take-over bids from the bigger boys for what remains of their trade, Can it be that 'the Trade' is really set on this result?—Yours faithfully, A bingdon, Berks
GRAHAM HUTTON
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