NINE HOTELS PROPOSED

Southland Times, Issue 25358, 9 May 1944, Page 4

NINE HOTELS PROPOSED

FIVE TO BE 11N SUBURBS TRUST’S CONTROL OF LIQUOR

Far-reaching decisions relating to the establishment of licensed hotels in Invercargill and suburbs were made by the Invercargill Licensing Trust last night. It was decided to arrange for the purchase of four hotel properties in the city area and five suitable properties in the suburbs. That means that Invercargill will have at least nine hotels when all the arrangements for their establishment are completed. The suburbs selected for hotels are Avenal, North Invercargill, Enwood, Appleby and prob-

ably East End. The trust made it clear that it intended to take over complete control of all liquor which comes into the Invercargill Licensing District. It maintains that if such a step is not taken, unlimited supplies of liquor from other sources will be brought into the district and the intentions of the trust to improve the licensing laws would thus be defeated. TEMPORARY BARS

It is not expected that the negotiations for the purchase of the properties will be completed in time to open them as licensed hotels on July 1, and for that reason temporary bars will be set up in the meantime. Differences of opinion on values are causing the trust considerable difficulty in the purchase of the city properties. Some of the present property owners do not appear anxious to sell, and rather than apply the compulsory provisions in the Act the trust would prefer to deal directly with the vendors. For the purpose of facilitating the acquisition of land the Governor-General may, on the applications of the trust, take under the Public Works Act any land, or any'particular estate. SECRETARY-MANAGERSHIP It was stated at the meeting that about 100 applications for the position of secretary-manager of the trust from persons all over New Zealand had already been received. The closing day for applications is Monday next. The Commissioner of Works, Mr James Fletcher, will visit Invercargill this week and will confer with the members of the trust about alterations to the hotels the trust intends to purchase and the erection of new buildings. Representatives of the building trade in Invercargill will be invited to attend the meeting with Mr Fletcher. Those present at the meeting wer’e Messrs H. Ritchie (chairman), W. H. Boyes, S. Anderson arid C. M. Dickson, the Hon. T. F. Doyle and Dr G. B. Orbell.