S. ISLAND TOURISTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 July 1936, Page 5

S. ISLAND TOURISTS

LICENSES FOR HOTELS.

[PEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

CHRISTCHURCH, July 22

One of the first acts of the new South Islands of New Zealand Travel Association will be to ask the Government. lo amend the licensing laws so as to enable the proprietors of the tourist houses in the Dominion to obtain licenses to sell liquor. A remit to this effect was approved by the Travel Association to-night. It was stated that experience showed that the catering for the tourist traffic in New Zealand could not be successful, unless the guests could be supplied with refreshments, such as were obtainable in similar establishments in other countries. The discussion extended to the advocacy of a review of the whole licensing system. Speakers condemned the present position as being prehistoric and out-of-date. The chairman, Mr W. K. McAlpine, said: “I am not giving away any secrets when I say that this matter is on paper for consideration. I think that if you approached the Government to-day. it would see it in the proper light." It was stated by others at the conference that their request should be only to sell liquor to boarders. OTAGO—COAST ROAD. CHRISTCHURCH, July 23. The importance to the South Island tourist traffic of a direct road link between Otago and the West Coast, as in the proposal for a centennial highway between those provinces, was emphasised at the conference of the South Islands Travel Association, at its inaugural meeting yesterday. The following remit, proposed by Mr E. I. Lord, on behalf of the West Coast interests, was approved unanimously:—

"That as an essential medium to further the objects of the travel association of the South Island, the executive be requested to investigate and report on the scenic and settlement possibilities in connection with the proposed centennial highway in South Westland linking the West Coast with the Milford Sound road and joining up the road facilities of the Otago and Southland provinces with the Westland' loading system; and further report on the proposal to link the Hermitage (Canterbury) district with the Coast, via Copland Pass, with improved means of access and better facilities to reach the hot springs of the locality.”