Timaru Hotels ‘Disappointing’

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30846, 3 September 1965, Page 3

Timaru Hotels ‘Disappointing’

(From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON. September 2. From the point of view of hotel premises, the city and neighbourhood of Timaru had proved even more disappointing than expected, said a report by the Licensing Control Commission. The report. 50 typed foolscap pages, gives a detailed account of a review of the South Canterbury licensing district, comprising Timaru, the boroughs of Temuka and Waimate, the counties of Waimate, Levels and Mackenzie, and parts of the counties of Geraldine and Waitaki. “Although Timaru is not a tourist resort, it is a pleasant place and has a strategic situation as a ‘stop-over’ with local attraction,” said the report.

“There were complaints that it-was being ignored by the tourist entrepreneurs. That, of course, is not to be wondered at. True, it is no longer the compulsory staging point to the alpine regions as it used to be, but neither does Timaru lav itself out to entice travellers.” Of the 23 hotels in Timaru and Temuka, and the few country hotels in the vicinity, the commission found that only three were in the “good” class, one of which (the Grosvenor, at Timaru) merited an “immediate” award of a licence. Four others were classified broadly as acceptable as hotels, 12 were acceptable as taverns, and the remaining four could be “left out of consideration.” STANDARD RECEDING “Although demand for accommodation is receding, so is the general standard of hotels,” the report said. “In our opinion, these two factors have some relationship. There must be a certain quantum of first-class accommodation in a city placed as Timaru is, before the tourist and travel agencies make a feature of it. “Of course, the motels are moving into the vacuum. On the whole, these provide better accommodation than all but a few hotels, so that the ordinary average hotel has no cause for either complaint or wonderment if business begins to slip away.” The question of new licences arose in Timaru, the report said. During Timaru hearings, evidence was given that existing hotels were in

the old inner area or on the road north or south. There were no hotels in the residential areas west and north of the city. The report said only two Timaru hotels provided substantial accommodation. Others made only a token contribution. The commission wants owners of premises at the northern and southern approaches to provide “a reasonable amount of accommodation consistent with their situation and prospects.” It is reserving the question of new licences in the area in the meantime. “In addition to this there is need, we believe, for at least one hotel of the motorhotel type, and one tavern in the area to the west and north-west of the inner city,” the report says.

"In view of the seeming desirability of rebuilding at least two of the present premises, we will hold over the authorisation of any new licences for six months in order to afford the owners an oportunity of exploring the possibility of removal. If no applications for removal are received within that period, the commission will proceed to authorise licences.”

Of 47 provisional licences renewed in the area, only three were for premises which required no improvements or minor ones. Twenty-five premises needed some alterations, 17 needed substantial improvements and two required complete renovation. The commission said too many Timaru hotels were operating substantially as taverns.

Of the Terminus Hotel, the commission says: “This hotel is situated some two to three miles to the south end of Timaru on the Main South road. It occupies an ideal situation for a modern motor hotel, and but for its existence the commission would probably have authorised a licence for a motor hotel." The old building is on three acres of ground. The Commission has suggested that motel units be used rather than extension of the present building.

“If we were considering the grant of a new licence here we would regard 15 units as a minimum, but in the circumstances will reduce this to eight,” the commission says. The owner has until November 30 to submit plans and proposals.