NEED FOR HOTEL ACCOMMODATION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 210, 21 June 1950, Page 2

NEED FOR HOTEL ACCOMMODATION

LICENSING COMMISSION CRITICISES REQUESTS

(P.A.) ' WHANGAREI, June 20. . When the Licensing Control Commission sat at Whangarei this morning, the chairman (Mr A. M. Goulding) commented that local bodies at previous sittings were inclined to ask for more hotel accommodation than was actually needed. “The commission relies largely on evidence from local bodies and local authorities because they are the representatives of the public and should be able to tell the commission about the needs of the area,” Mr Goulding said. “In some areas where we have relied on the evidence of local authorities, we have been guided by them in laying down the amount of accommodation which should be provided. Where the commission .has authorised new ( hotels, those authorised were too large and pretentious for the.needs.”

In all these instances the commission had granted less than had been asked by the local bodies or authorities. Local bodies, therefore, should give careful consideration to that aspect. “As far as standards are concerned, the commission, has laid down certain minimum standards for bedrooms and bars, and it will not depart front them,” Mr Goulding said. “When it comes to the amount of accommodation, that is a matter to which the authorities should give very careful consideration.”