CHRISTCHURCH HOTELS.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 10988, 11 June 1901, Page 3

CHRISTCHURCH HOTELS.

TO THE EDITOH OF THE PRESS. Sir,—-I read -with great pleasure your leader of the 6th inst. under the above heading, and thoroughly endorse your views as stated therein. There is no doubt the Licensing Committer did their duty by insuring that the owners of several houses should re-build, and it is quite easy to understand the owners of these houses hanging ou .to the old buildings as long as possible ; bnv. sir, does not this atrikc any Reasonable pewon. that there is something very rotten fit' State of'thblfCw'f' Would any. man possessed of ordinary intellect put up an expensivebifildingfora three years' lease. The idea is ridiculou-., to say the least of it. It seems to ma high time, the law stepped in and treated the publicans to something bordering on fairness. At the last election a subrtarntial majority of the electors voted that the trade should reman a* at present, T.i- representatives of the -people sttrp in and say to the publican: You must provide certain accommodation, or we will not grant you your license. That provision in a number of cases means a new building at the •.mull est, cost, Vay £5000. Now. as there are a bou* seven lio_.es in Christchurch to be i re-built, ancl others to be considerably improved, it is safe to say ths sum of £60.000 is to be spent within ths next twelve j months, ivnd no doubt the same will toll ow Ith rough the whole of New Zealand. Probably £250,000- would be under th_ mark to be spent by the. trade, and what for? One year's lease. Did any business man ever •hear of anything so preposterous? If I were-one of their numbar, I would move heaven ar.d earth before I would be subject to such a damnable law.--Yours, etc.;. _ JUSTIC-.