Some Demands On Hotels Opposed

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30901, 6 November 1965, Page 16

Some Demands On Hotels Opposed

(From Our Own Reporter)

HOKITIKA, Nov. 5.

“Outrageous” demands by the licensing Control Commission on hotels throughout the country were criticised by several delegates to the South Island Local Bodies’ Association conference, but others praised the commission’s work.

“If the commission’s requirements are enforced they are going to price the hotels out of the average man’s pocket,” said Mr G. A. Douglas (St. Kilda). “Demanding that every hotel should provide private bathrooms attached to rooms is out of all reason,” he said. “The average customer wants a tidy room, clean sheets, hot and cold water and adequate bathrooms and toilets. Not every overseas tourist wants a private bathroom either.” “If you price New Zealanders out of the hotels, who is going to fill them?” Mr R. E. Buick (Ashburton) asked.

Some of the “really flash” tourist hotels being built were empty half the time, as people could not afford to stay there, another delegate said.

Some country hotels provided accommodation for single men wo king in the district, and they were happy with clean, comfortable accommodation at a reasonable tariff, said an Inangahua delegate. A lot of the commission’s requirements had resulted in hotels being brought to a better standard, said Mr V. J Corbett (Kaikoura). Possibly the requirement for private bathrooms was not necessary, but others were. A blanket condemnation would be unwise.

“Yes, the commission has done a good job,” Mr D. Dowell (Timaru) said. “It is only a pity it was not set up 25 years ago.” The conference agreed that a protest should be made against some of the conditions and that the executive have power to act.