TEST MATCH WEEK-END

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27383, 8 May 1950, Page 6

TEST MATCH WEEK-END

Accommodation Problem HOTELS FULLY BOOKED Visitors to Dunedin during the May 27-28 week-end who have not already arranged their accommodation will have difficulty in doing so, according to hotelkeepers interviewed by the Daily Times. As the test match between the touring British Rugby team and New Zealand will be held at this time, bookings have been abnormally heavy. Most hotels have been fully booked for several months. The licensee of one city hotel said that he had been fully booked for the week-end since February and had been forced to refuse “ hundreds of applications.” He felt that Dunedin would have a Southland-Otago match atmosphere during the Test match weekend. Although Southland was not due to meet Otago at Carisbrook until August 5, bookings were already full for that week-end also. “I have already given up my own bed for the week-end, and still have more applications for accommodation than I can cope with,” another licensee said. People seemed to be coming from all over the country to see the match. He did not see how they could be accommodated. He had been refusing applications for the past six weeks. The only reply another licensee could give to applicants was that they should endeavour to find bed and breakfast accommodation for the weekend. He said he had been inundated with inquiries from all over the South Island for board, and had been unable to find accommodation for them at any hotel in Dunedin.