COMPLAINT ABOUT MEALS Compensation to tourists

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33121, 11 January 1973, Page 1

COMPLAINT ABOUT MEALS Compensation to tourists

(New Zealand Press Association)

DUNEDIN, January 10.

After promising compensation to a party of Australian tourists who. alleged they were served “inedible” meals from three New Zealand hotels, the Government Tourist and Publicity Department will seek recompense from the hotels concerned.

Mr L. F. Manning, district manager of the department’s Christchurch branch, said that the compensation was offered to the party “in the point of good will.

“We are very concerned about visitors’ satisfactions, and want to send away happy clients,” he said.

The managers of the two Otago hotels in question, the Otematata and the Golden Central (Alexandra), deny that the meals were inedible, Mr Manning agreed that it was more a matter of service than the food itself, they said. On Monday, the Australians made a complaint about the meals to the Department of Health at Auckland. They referred to hotels at Alexandra, Otematata, and Waitomo.

Mr Manning said the compensation would amount to about $7.50 to each person in the party, an estimated total of $262.50. “This is simply the cost of the meals,” he said.

Mr R. H. Jenkins, manager of the Golden Central Hotel,

said his initial reaction to the complaints was one of disgust.

“That particular day, we catered for about 300 persons in the dining room. I make it a habit to visit the table of each touring party, and yet I heard no complaint whatsoever,” he said. Praise from others “During the Christmas period, about 800 persons were accommodated at the hotel; and the only complaint has been that they cannot stay in Alexandra longer. In fact, a member of an Australian tour here yesterday said the main complainant in the party must be a post-war immigrant into Australia—they don’t want to know him.”

Mr Jenkins said that although it is not his decision whether the Government will be reimbursed, he is not in favour of it. “The Govem'ment Tourist and Publicity

Department is admitting defeat,” he said. "We’ve got nothing to be ashamed of about our meals.” At a cost of $3.25, the tourists have a choice of two soups, a grilled fish entree, grilled chops or roast chicken, a choice of three sweets, and coffee; and if they wish, they can have fruit juices. The manager of the Otemata Hotel (Mr G. L’Homme) said that the Christmas meal was deliberately served slowly because it was a special day, and he wanted the patrons to enjoy their meal. “Four coach-loads of tourists came through that day, and the comfortable way in which the meal was served suited 90 per cent of them,” he said. “However, it did not suit one person who, I believe, wanted to watch a television programme. He went from one point to another, and finally just tore down the whole structure of the place, which culminated in his criticism of the meal,” Mr L’Homme said. “We offered the same service on New Year’s Day—the same menu—and no complaint was received at all.” Dissociation Mr Manning received today a telegram from a visiting Australian couple who wished to dissociate themselves from the complaints. “Christmas dinner in Alexandra was really out of this world; and New Year’s Eve in Otematata was good, although there was a lack of entertainment,” the telegram said. “The smorgasborg meal at Waitomo was excellent. “Our only complaint is too much food. Please give ladies less when it is asked for.”