TOURIST RESORTS

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4607, 9 October 1934, Page 5

TOURIST RESORTS

LIQUOR LICENSES. HON. W. WARD'S SUGGESTION. A plea for greater facilities for the obtaining of refreshments at tourist resorts was made by the Hon. V. A. Ward in the Legislative Council. Mr. Ward said that New Zealand was not a prohibition country, but at several of the tourist resorts it was not possible to obtain a glass of beer or wine. It was essential that a tourist should leave the country feeling that he had e'njoyed his stay in the Dominion, but at the present time he was liable to be annoyed because his liberties or social habits were restricted, and because he was being treated differently from what he had been used to in his own country and also differently from New Zealanders themselves. If a tourist visiting Waikaremoana wished to have a glass of beer or wine, he had to walk 40 miles in one direction or 105 miles in another to gratify his wants. If he was at the Waitomo Caves he would have to go 26 miles in one direction a'nd 101 miles in another if he wanted anything stronger than water or tea. From the Chateau Tongariro the nearest licensed houses were 42 miles away. If a tourist, after walking to Milford Sound, asked for a whisky and soda or a glass of ale, he would be told that he would have to walk 35 miles and then take a lau'nch for another 42 miles before obtaining his drink. The same experience applied to other tourist resorts such as Lake Manapouri, Tekapo, Marlborough Sounds, and Mount Egmont. "I suggest that the Government should consider the question of providing facilities whereby tourists may be permitted to enjoy the amenities of life that a great number of them are used to and receive in tourist resorts in other parts of the world," said Mr. Ward. "I suggest, therefore, that special licenses to sell liquor should be made available to resorts frequented by tourists. From the commercial aspect it would help the hostels financially and enable thern to provide better facilities and service to visitors. We should do all we can in New Zealand to encourage and foster our tourist traffic. Our tourist resorts are a valuable asset, a'nd in addition the intermingling of peoples create a better understanding of the problems facing the various countries of the world."