Pages tagged with: greymouth

What would it take for West Coasters to boycott their beloved beer? Greymouth hotel-keepers found out in 1947, when an organised attempt to raise the price of beer sparked one of the most effective consumer boycotts ever seen in New Zealand.

Between 1919 and 1967 all public hotels in New Zealand officially closed at 6 p.m., but these hours were only nominally observed on the West Coast.

In mid 1947 there were rumours that the price of beer was about to rise. It was a decision that no publican wanted to take alone because customers might move to another hotel where prices were lower.

After the first week of the Greymouth beer boycott it became clear that the Licensed Victuallers' Association (LVA), supported by the breweries, was not going to yield.

A number of Working Men's Clubs (WMCs) had been established in major urban areas since the late 19th century, but there were none on the West Coast. The beer boycott provided a catalyst for new debate.

By early December 1947 business was gradually returning to some pubs in the larger towns, but the boycott was still effective in smaller centres.

Armistice Day procession along Mawhera Quay, Greymouth, 12 November 1918.

Mining work was disrupted as the tactic of 'black-listing' strike breakers was adopted during the Greymouth beer boycott .

This editorial from the Greymouth Evening Star suggests that the impetus for establishing Working Men's Clubs was linked to a Communist agenda among the workers.

Crowd outside Revington's Hotel in Greymouth.

Looking down Mawhera Quay from Boundary Street corner.