Trust hotels

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32708, 10 September 1971, Page 10

Trust hotels

: Sir, —The Ashburton Licen- ■ sing Trust maintains r that it supplies “food and 1 drink at minimal prices." ■ From my experience I do not find this to. be the case. Casual meals at' the Devon and Somerset hotels are no . cheaper in comparison with ■ those of equal quality pro- ; vided at similar graded hotels ■ run by private enterprise. As . to liquor prices, may I ask I if the spirits are dispensed • from 8 or 10 bowsers (i.e., g or | fl. oz. nips)? Does the Price Investigation Tribunal writ run in the public bars in trust hotels? : If so, do the tribunal inspec--1 tors ever check on the sizes 1 of nips, glasses, jugs, etc.? I ' am told by those in the trade ! that the strength of spirits is controlled by the Health [ Department, and that their ' inspectors never make snap ’ checks and will investigate ' only specific complaints and ! that the last prosecution in 1 the Canterbury district for ' selling,under-strength- spirits ' was some 15. years ago.— 1 Yours, etc., 1 / NOT SATISFIED. ’ f August 26, 1971. i [Mr D. J. Gasson replies ! on behalf of Mr S. T. Bari nett, president of the Price ; Tribunal: “All sales of liquor I are subject to the jurisdiction ■ of the Price Tribunal, either ■ by means of the price order ■ (or beer and spirits or by the . price justification scheme. • Departmental inspectors . make checks on prices and , measures from time to