FRANZ JOSEF HOTEL

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27877, 27 January 1956, Page 9

FRANZ JOSEF HOTEL

FAULT LINE THROUGH SITE

MINISTER REPLIES TO CORRESPONDENT

“The existence oL a serious fault line running through the site of the proposed new hotel at Franz Josef is a fact which cannot be ignored,” said the Minister in charge of Tourist and Health Resorts (Mr E. H. Halstead) in reply to a correspondent of “The Press.” Mr Halstead commented on the protests of “Local Resident” that approximately £3OOO was spent in clearing the site, now abandoned, which the Ministry of Works must have known was unsafe, and that Mr Halstead had made an untrue statement that the forest involved was second growth. "It would be an irresponsible risk to erect a reinforced concrete hotel on such an area, but obviously the department was unaware of the existence of the foundation weakness when it authorised the ciearning and surveying of the site,” said Mr Halstead. "The fault was revealed after an extensive survey by the Geological Survey, and only about three acres of remnant bush were affected by the clearing.” In reply to the corresondent’s accusation that the department had demonstrated bad planning. mismanagement, and a reckless disregard for public money, Mr Halstead said the erection of the new wing to replace the old annexe was a very sound investment, and greatly assisted the management to show improved trading. “At the time of the fire the hotel was operating at a reasonable profit. The department is very satisfied with its record of management of the previous Franz Josef hotel, as the many expressions of commendation from appreciative guests can testify,” said Mr Halstead.