The 1947 Greymouth beer boycott
Pub culture - Greymouth beer boycott
The boycott begins - Greymouth beer boycott
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. So the local branch of the Licensed Victuallers' Association (LVA) on 29 September 1947 announced that the price of a 10-ounce beer would increase immediately from 6d to 7d in all West Coast hotels. Publicans were issued with posters saying 'All beer 7d'.
Industrial action - Greymouth beer boycott
Working Men’s Clubs - Greymouth beer boycott
End of the 1947 beer boycott
By early December 1947 the energies of the main supporters of the beer boycott had been diverted into the formation of Working Men's Clubs (WMCs). Business was gradually returning to some pubs in the larger towns, but the boycott was still effective in smaller centres. A newspaper headline on 9 December read: 'Beer Boycott May End This Week: Publicans' Meeting'. But there was clearly determination within the Licensed Victuallers' Association (LVA) to continue
Armistice Day celebrations in Greymouth
Armistice Day announcement in the Grey River Argus, 13 November 1918. The article describes the celebrations in Greymouth the previous day:
Peace celebrations in Greymouth
Peace celebration procession along Mawhera Quay, Greymouth, July 1919. See another image of this parade on Timeframes.
Read more about this procession in the 22nd July issue of the Grey River Argus, available on PapersPast.
Black-listed for breaking beer boycott
Mining work was disrupted as the tactic of 'black-listing' strike breakers was adopted during the Greymouth beer boycott .
Greymouth Evening Star 26 Nov 1947
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