COMTESSE COMPLAINS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22991, 19 March 1938, Page 12

COMTESSE COMPLAINS

HOTELS IN NEW ZEALAND CATERING FOR TOURISTS [from our own correspondent] SYDNEY, March 12 As soon as Com toss© Margaret de Zedtwitz, of Austria, arrived here from New Zealand, she complained about the condition oi' hotels there, and within 24 hours was making complaints about Sydney hotels. She said that in one of the leading Dominion hotels she had been obliged to scrub out her own bath and wanh-basin. "Five people had the use of the bathroom attachec 1 to my suite," said the Comtesse. "In the bedroom there was no water, not even a wash-basin. J came back one night, tired after sightseeing, to find the basin and bath covered with filth. 1 had to clean out the room, the lath, and basin before 1 could use them, as there was no service available." "The tourist arrangements in New Zealand are absolutely dreadful." declared the Comtesse. "If New Zealand and Australia want tourists they will have to cater ):or them by improving hotels and travelling accommodation. "I do not like criticising Australians, because they ore so extraordinarily kind, but, if they wish to build up a tourist trade the.v will have to face some, home truthn," she said about her brief Stay in Sydney. "Most of their tourists are from Europe, and accustomed to all the refinements of life." The Comtesse fiaid that on Sunday she could not find a place to eat, not a book shop was open, and she was driven^ 1 back to hor hotel room. She saw distressing crowds with mournful faces around the city. Many of them were oversea visitors, without the Australian's love of the beach, and thev were thoroughly miserable. with nothing to do. "It is so long since I have eaten a good piece of meat that T have forgotten, the taste," she added. "Not only is the'meat inferior, but badly cooked, and re-warmed it loses all resemblance to anjythinn; but leather." Even when waiters were tipped, service was bad, the Comtesse said. The chambermaids seemed to think they were duchesses. Thev tossed their noses in the air and did not; carry out instructions. The Comtesse has a kind word for the men. "They do everything they can to help you, and I do not know where poor, lone women travellers in Australia would be without them."