HOTEL ACCOMMODATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25301, 11 August 1943, Page 4

HOTEL ACCOMMODATION

Sir,—Can you advise me whether or not licensed premises are under an obligation to provide accommodaiion for the travelling public. I was under the impression that a licensee had to undertake to maintain facilities for travellers, as a condition of his licence, stating the rooms available, etc., but a recent experience I had in Dunedin seems to explode this idea. Being called to Dunedin on Government business, and arriving somewhat late as I thought for dinner, I had a hurried meal at a restaurant, having had previous experience of displeasure for late comers. I then repaired to a well-known hotel and met mine host himself in the lobby. He remarked I was late and asked what train I was off. I said I had come in by a bus. He then said: "You want dinner, bed, and breakfast? ” I explained that I had had dinner as it was late. He then said: “Oh, you only want bed and breakfast? Well, there is no room for you. Now, I afterwards learned from a friend of mine who was staying in the hotel, that it was not full. It would be interesting if the Licensing Authority could check up on this hotel and its attitude to the public, as I am advised that this host is an autocrat of the first water. Things must be paying so well that he can afford to treat the business as a hobby, and refuse accommodation which was, it appears, available. The difficulty of running an hotel and providing accommodation, and still making ends meet, seems another myth.—l am, etc.. Northerner.