HOTEL ACCOMMODATION.

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 June 1911, Page 3

HOTEL ACCOMMODATION.

pro THE EDITOR.] Sir, —What is the matter with the country hotels on this West Coast? Why are they generally of such poor quality, compared to the average in other parts of this island ? Although the charges are higher than is usual in Canterbury or Otago, few who have travelled much in the South Island will deny that the general average of accommodation furnished the travelling public is inferior on the Coast. My experience of the West Coast comprises all that part south of Reefton, and in the past six months I have visited practically every place in this area yet I could count on the fingers of one hand all the country hotels in the Grey Valley or Westland which are even fair in quality. But some on the Otira line are even worse than the average on this Coast, in my opinion. Fancy paying 1/6 for a ‘‘feast” of bread and meat! Well that is what I have had to do time after time, as vegetables, even potatoes are apparently unknown hex - e.

We It avo all heard, Mr Editor, the statement that an unlicensed place cannot afford to give as good a meal as a licensed hotel for the same price. Well, if any one wants any first-hand information on this matter let him visit the far-famed Otira line. At many of the sawmills along the railway there are boarding houses, and at various stations, licensed hotels. Now, it is an absolute fact that the average quality of the food served in these boarding-houses for 1/- is superior to that at any hotel on the line, yet they all charge L 6 or more. The inference is plain enough that the average* hotelkeeper cares for nothing except the bar trade. Is there no way of remedying this evil ? Could not some committee be appointed or elected to report, on the quality of the accommodation furnished by a publican and if unsatisfactory, to refuse to renew his license? Yours, etc., WEARY WANDERER.