BETTER STANDARD WANTED AT GLACIER HOSTELS

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 October 1948, Page 6

BETTER STANDARD WANTED AT GLACIER HOSTELS

The need for an improved standard of accommodation to be provided at tourist resorts on the West Coast; especially at the glaciers, if overseas visitors were to be attracted to the province, was stressed by Mr J. Doyle, speaking at the annual meeting of the Westland Progress League last evening. , Nothing had been done to improve the South Westland glacier hostels for many years, said Mr Doyle, adding that, as 11 years ago, people in the dining room at the Franz Josef Hostel still had to leave their tables to open the door to new arrivals who could not manipulate the lock. While there were big fires in the lounge there was no heating arrangement in the dining room and visitors often “froze” over their meals. A manager who was capable of promoting social life instead of offering visitors nothing more interesting than a lounge in which to recline in the evening, was required, he went on, urging that the Government be asked to have the general standard of the hostels raised considerably.

The new president of the league, Mr G. R. Harker, said that improvements were planned at the Fox Glacier Hostel and once a permit was obtained a start would be made with this 4 work. Government architects recently visited the State hostel at Waiho and investigated the need for renovations and alteratioiis, he added. “If these were carried out, no doubt there will be a new catch on the lounge door,” he said. The league had asked the Government to issue a permit for the reerection of the annexe to the Franz Josef Hostel which had been destroyed by fire more than a year ago, said Mr Harker. He thought this would be done, for a conference likely to be attended by between 200 and 300 delegates had been arranged for the Franz Josef area next year. “If the hostels are improved or extended and the annexe rebuilt, I think we will be in a position to invite future conferences to the area,” he said, “for it is regarded generally as being most suitable for the purpose.” A proposal by Mr J. B. Bluett, that the West Coast’s attractions could be well advertised by screen advertisements at the larger New Zealand cities, particularly Wellington, was referred to the league’s council for consideration. ‘