Marist mayhem sours lodge staff

Press, 13 April 1982, Page 6

Marist mayhem sours lodge staff

A Christchurch motor lodge's decision to “relent" and admit club rugby teams is being bitterly regretted after damage by players, and upset to other guests, including overseas visitors, on the players' return from a social function on Sunday evening. The Avon , Motor Lodge during the Easter week-end accommodated 82 members and supporters of rugby teams from Ashburton. Gore, and Invercargill competing in. the annual South Island Marist clubs', tournament held in Christchurch.

In the wake of damage caused in guests' rooms and public areas of the lodge has £ome renewed recommendations that rugby teams should be barred until their standards of behaviour improved. - Damage caused by team members included broken windows. door handles, chairs, light fittings, and coffee tables, a broken luggage .trolley and a lift crammed with furniture and other debris.

Even worse, according to Mr Eric Hunter, the lodge's ■manager, was the impression which overseas guests'gained : of New Zealanders and the lodge after being kept up "most of the night by shoutjng, and .breaking of glass and furniture.

Mr Hunter said the teams booked in on Friday morning. They were “reasonably boisterous but manageable” until Sunday evening, but the "episode" began after they returned to the lodge about In addition to the damage to furnishings, vomit and beer stains were found on carpets and bedding, and some units have had to be closed for fumigation. Mr Hunter said the police were called about 2.30 a.m.

He said the lodge’s policy had been not to house club rugby teams after damage caused by a team about five years ago. Various international teams, and other sports representatives had stayed at the lodge without incident. On this occasion the management relented, to its regret.

Mr Hunter, who is also chairman of the Canterbury Hotel Accommodation Council. said liquor seemed to be the main attraction to the teams, and the sports tournament seemed to be secondary.

"They cannot possibly play the game in sound mind, in a drunken condition.”

He said some players were still drinking beer at breakfast time, and empty bottles were collected from their quarters.

Mr P. L. Doig, one of the tournament organisers, said last evening that an inquiry would be held to try to identify the people responsible and if this could be done disciplinary action would very likely follow. "We will approach the clubs and, if necessary, the unions of the individuals identified.. There is also a South Island Marist Association and it may see fit to bar certain players from future. tournaments.”

Mr Doig said that the incident was very upsetting to the local Marist club, which had no control. over the teams from other areas. “It came at the end of a trouble-free week-end and we ‘even had from the caterers on the behaviour of the 300 who attended the end-of-tourna-ment dinner on Sunday night,” he said. Mr Doig said that levies had been collected from the teams which stayed at the Avon Motor Lodge before they left yesterday morning and the local Marist club had agreed to cover any additional costs for damage.

“It is very disappointing that a wonderful week-end has been spoilt by a fewindividuals who could not behave themselves.” he said.