Defends N.Z. Hotel Service

Northern Advocate, 14 June 1949, Page 5

Defends N.Z. Hotel Service

WELLINGTON, Tue. (P.A.)—Criticism of New Zealand hotel service, made in Gisborne last week by Mr S. Peter-Morton, was replied to today by Mr L. D. Paterson, managing-director of Gibsons and Paterson (Overseas), Ltd., which represents two English manufacturing concerns. , Mr Paterson said he himself wa3 the only person in New Zealand who could properly describe himself as representative of Grindley Hotel Ware and Grafton Ware, a British company. Mr Morton, Mr Paterson said, had been an employee of Gibsons and Paterson (N.Z.), Ltd., since March 3 of this year. / “Apart from the unfairness and inaccuracy of the comparison, Mr Mos-' ton’s criticisms of the service rendered by our hotels is, to «my mind, particularly unfair,” said Mr Paterson, MANY DIFFICULTIES “The criticisms seem to have been made without regard to the difficulties with which hotel proprietors are at present faced—licensees are confronted every day with shortages of every description, including lack of staff, and also of all types of supplies. “Nevertheless, I am frequently amazed that in spite of these difficulties, one experiences in the main nothing but courtesy and willing service, not only from the proprietors, but also front the staffs of our hotels in this country.” Mr Paterson added that he himself had travelled widely overseas and recently returned from a visit to the United Kingdom and the Continent, COMPARISONS He considered that -well-informed comparison would show that the service rendered by hotels in New Zealand was infinitely superior to that generally obtaining in England and on the Continent. “In fairness, of course, it must be pointed out that the deterioration in service of English hotels is beyond reasonable control of hotel people in the Old Country, who are suffering to a much greater degree than we are in New Zealand from the effects of the post-war period,” said Mr Paterson.