Commission Hears Many Proposals For Hotels

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30976, 4 February 1966, Page 9

Commission Hears Many Proposals For Hotels

A proposal to. convert the Star Hotel, Lincoln road, to tax ern status by linking it with the Russley Hotel on an extended hotel premises, licence, opposition to a similar proposal for the Royal and White Swan and details of the proposed fourstorey addition to the Carlton Hotel were heard by the Licensing Control Commission yesterday.

The commission yesterday completed the hearing of detailed applications for hotel premises, extended hotel premises or tavern licences for 24 of the 100 hotels in its Canterbury licensing district review. It will resume its Christchurch sitting on February 14.

Mr A. R. O’Malley, for the company which owns the Carlton Hotel (Mr S. G. Erber), asked the commission to hold over matters raised in an inspection report on the existing hotel buildings in view of the company’s plans to build a new block. Mr O’Malley said that development of the hotel had been held up for some time until satisfactory car parking arrangements could be made. The company had since bought adjoining properties, and now owned about three acres round the hotel. This would be the site for the new block, and give off-street parking for 200 cars. “We may have appeared to have been lethargic in starting work, but we now have enough property, and are forging ahead,” said Mr O’Malley. He said the four-storey block would have 50 guest rooms and 102 beds, all with private facilities. It was hoped to accept a tender in a matter of weeks. Scheme Revised

“We had a firm contract price, but at first sight it was rather a shocker," said Mr O’Malley. “It rocked us a little. Naw, we have condensed the scheme, which has gone back for another price. I believe, with everything condensed, we can cut onethird off the price.” Mr O’Malley gave the commission confidential figures as to costs, but it was stated in evidence given to the com-

mission on Wednesday that; the new block would cost | about £400,000. To the chairman (Mr S. T. Barnett), Mr O’Malley said that the number of guest rooms had been cut from 130. This made it an economic scheme. Guest accommodation in the existing hotel would be used for staff. He said the Government had assured the company that the equity capital available to it would be sufficient to qualify it for the guarantee scheme. To Sir William Gentry (a commissioner) Mr O’Malley said that it would take about 18 months to complete the new block. Mr Barnett: What you suggest is, leave us alone in the meantime? Mr O’Malley: Yes. Views Shared Mr Barnett: We congratulate you on your enterprise in providing what is going to help Christchurch, but yesterday we heard gloomy views on the need for betterclass accommodation. Mr O’Malley: We share that view, but that has not frightened the company. While I agree with that view, there is some evidence that it applies to luxury class accommodation. The Carlton is on the Charing Cross of Christchurch, and we can stand on our own feet. He said the new hotel’s tariff would be £3 single and £5 double for bed and breakfast. The hotel’s substantial liquor trade enabled a lower tariff to be fixed. Mr R. C. Cotton, lessee of the Royal Hotel, said he objected to the application by the owners, Bal-lihs Industries, Ltd., for an extended premises licence to cover also the White Swan Hotel. His counsel, Mr J. A. Bretherton, said the lease had two years to run, without right of renewal. Mr Cotton said that the White Swan licence would be redundant, and should be re-

located. The two hotels were so close that if the White Swan became a tavern, and could use its diningroom and kitchen for bars, it could affect the Royal’s liquor trade.

Question Of Economy

Supporting an application for a hotel premises licence for the Gresham Hotel, the proprietor, Mr W. C. Murray (Mr R. E. Wylie) said that if he had to provide more accommodation it would prove

“You suggest that we set standards to meet the wishes of an individual owner?” Mr Barnett asked Mr Wylie. “Yes, but qualify that with the service given by Mr and Mrs Murray,” said Mr Wylie. The Gresham was not carrying on substantially a tavern business, and had a 35 per cent bed. occupancy rate. New Zealand Breweries, Ltd. (Mr N. G. Clark), applied for an adjournment in the case of the Star Hotel, saying that application would be made for a tavern licence, and for an extended premises licence for the Russley Hotel to cover also the Star. New Zealand Breweries, Ltd., owned both hotels, he said. There were two plans for rebuilding the Star, one complete, and the other embodying the new public bar. Mr R. H. Standish, the manager of the Christchurch branch of the company, said that it would be expensive to convert the hotel to provide accommodation. The company wanted to reconstruct it as a tavern.

To Mr Barnett, Mr Standish said the Star would be four or five miles from the Russley. He did not see why the two hotels could not be controlled by one manager. The commission then adjourned until February 14.

Ocean Race.—Thirty-six yachts have entered the AucklandSuva ocean race which will start on April 30.