HOTEL ACCOMMODATION

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 256, 13 July 1926, Page 12

HOTEL ACCOMMODATION

Sir,—Tho licensing laws of New Zealand undoubtedly require amendment, and it is a matter for gratification that the Government intends to tackle the job during the present Parliament. With the question of the supply of intoxicants I do not intend to deal, leaving it to those who have made a special study of its vagaries. The burning question to many is that of accommodation. There can be no doubt that this important branch of the question has been overlooked in the legislation of the past 20 years. The population of tho Dominion has increased in the interim by probably 50 per cent.; but the hotel accommodation has hardly increased at all With an everincreasing tourist traffic, both domestic and overseas, some provision should now be made for increased accommodation so that reasonable comfort may be relied on by the travelling public. At present it is unsafe to visit any town without having previously booked rooms. Three solutions of the difficulty present themselves:— • 1 An increase in the number of licensed hotels in proportion to increase of population of the Dominion redistributed in accordance with present day needs. This will naturally be opposed by both the licensed victuallers and the prohibitionists. 2. Increased accommodation, at the behest of the licensing authority, to be provided in connection with existing licenses. . , , , , , 3. Licensing of private hotels and public boardinghouses to supply accommo-, elation without liquor, and carrying with it tho same conditions of inspection as that now carried by liquor licenses. If found desirable such licensed boardinghouses could be graded and licensed accordingly, their charges being regulated within certain limits according to the grade of their licenses. This would give these houses a definite statue and meet the needs of those who prefer to be away from a liquor bar, and at the same time ease the strain on the licensed hotel. —I am, etc., TRAVELLER.