DEARER BOARD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22822, 1 September 1937, Page 15

DEARER BOARD

PRIVATE HOTEL TARIFF INCREASE FROM YESTERDAY HIGHER COST OF LIVING An increase of 10 per cent in private hotel tariffs in Auckland, to operate as from yesterday, has been agreed upon by the Auckland Provincial Hotel Proprietors' Association. Increased costs are said to be responsible for the decision to raise the rates, and advice has been received of agreement to similar action in Canterbury and Otago. Private hotel proprietors have been advised of the association's decision by the secretary, Mr. R. A. Spinley. In his letter, he said that the decision was unanimous, and that opinions wero freely expressed at the meeting that the proposed increase was necessary to meet the added costs of commodities and catering. Members were earnestly recommended to ask their patrons for the additional amount, and thus make the rise universal.

Southern Support "Southern centres have .communicated with this office, and have indicated their general agreement with the suggestion," the letter continued. "Members of southern centres are also finding it extremely difficult to carry on at a profit, and are taking steps to ii> crease their tariffs, thereby supporting the action of this association." While no definite information had been received from Wellington, Canterbury and Otago had notified him, of their agreement, Mr. Spinley said yesterday. The decision had been made necessary by the rise of costs by 26 per cent since July last year. In addition, proprietors would have to face the questiou of a new award iri January, when a 40-honr week and general increases would be ( sought. * Continued Rise in Costs In an effort to meet rising costs, proprietors had had to raise their rates by 10 per cent in January, 1937, he added. Some had had to revert to the bed and breakfast system, and others had been obliged to do away with Friday night dinner in their attempts to economise. ' In spite of this, costs had continued to rise. Before deciding on the most recent increase, the Auckland association had sought the opinion of southern organisations. If a new award were introduced, involving higher wages and shorter hours, another increase in tariff would be necessary, said Mr. W. J. Jaggs, president" of the association. He said that the present rise would leave tariffs below the 1931 level, and had been adopted solely to offset losses due to higher costs. POSITION IK OTAGO NO IMMEDIATE INCREASE [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION'] DUNEDIX, Tuesday Commenting to-day on an Auckland message, the president of the Otago Private Hotelkeepers' Union of Employers, Mr. C. 11. Williamson, stated that the suggestion that tariffs were to be raised in Otago was entirely without foundation. Last year, when wage cuts were restored, the proprietors of Otago private hotels slightly increased their price schedules, but at a meeting of the executive of the union held last week, it was decided that no further rise would be made in the meanj time. The opinion of the meeting wao | that the present position did not war- | rant an immediate increase in tariffs. ! The matter might well he left in the hands of individual proprietors.