WAYS OF THE WORKLESS

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 November 1930, Page 2

WAYS OF THE WORKLESS

HOTELKEEPERS AS GOOD MARKS

“Where do the hard-ups go in the night-time?” This was the question considered by a “Star” representative to-day, after' a stroll around the streets which revealed not a few men, obviously down on their less, some of them sleep out, despite the bad weather, but, according to one hotelkeeper, other hard-ups use then wits. ' “Yes,” he said, “there have been a lot of strangers in town lately, worse luck. Many people seem to think that hotelkeepers are always on velvet, and that they just have to sit in an easy chair and count up the cash, but anyone who has tried it knows the real position. I suppose some of the men who come into the town ai e genuine triers, but their, luck, is out. As for others—well, I don’t think you would publish my real opinion. They look on hotelkeepers as ‘good marks,’ and these are the days when we have to be hard, or be taken down. One young chap stayed here at race time, and he had a good time, but when a hint was given, that a payment on account of his bill would be acceptable, that was a horse of another colour. He was* very offended, and packed his bag immediately. But he came dow n to earth when his bag was commandeered, pending payment of his account. “A married couple also gave trouble. After staying for about a week, they were told that their ro.om would be required. No money was forthcoming, and their luggage was retained as security. They went to a boarding house, and paid in advance there. The husband then came back to the hotel, and demanded the baggage, saying that his wife hadn’t even a nightdress to sleep in. I told him that did not worry me in the least, and that it was a case of no money, no baggage. They left town soon afterwards, and I issued a summons Finally, the account was paid, and tlie baggage returned, but he had to pay legal fees in addition. “Many of the people who come to hotels appear to be all right, but time tells the tale, and my collection oi property retained as security is growing. It is the only way we have a chance of getting payment. I can assure you that the life of an hotelkeeper in these hard times is certainly not all beei- and skittles.”