THE LICENSING TRUST

Southland Times, Issue 25737, 30 July 1945, Page 6

THE LICENSING TRUST

Sir, —After watching the mistakes of the Licensing Trust for 13 months, I suggest that in the interests of the tourists, the travelling public, the progress of Southland, and the residents of Invercargill in particular, its members should resign. We all remember Mr Ritchie’s statement, that the trust will consider its best servants to be the couple capable of putting on the best meals and accommodation. To celebrate the trust’s first birthday, a trip abroad was suggested for Mr Barnett and Mr Ritchie, to learn something of the catering side of hotels. At the meeting when the trip was under discussion, it was freely admitted by a member that between them they knew little,

if anything, about the hotel business. This statement went unchallenged by any of them. Now, from nearly 40 applications for manager and manageress for the Grand Hotel, are we to believe that there were no applicants with hotel experience? If the trust expects their managers to serve breakfast to guests leaving by the early express, carry the coal, set fires, be barmen, porter, drink waiter, etc., and await the arrival of the night express to receive guests, is it any wonder experienced couples were not available for about 1/3 per hour? While school ties do not interest me, might I suggest that the exmanager of the St. George and Waterloo Hotels, Wellington, who is now manager of “Menzies,” Melbourne’s leading hotel, did not gain his appointment for his knowledge of banking or his association with the stock exchange? Adapted, for radio, I am sure the trust hotels would make a better serial than Dad and Dave. MILO. [This letter was referred to the sec-retary-manager of the trust (Mr E. B. Barnett), who had no comment to make beyond inviting the correspondent to meet the trust and discuss the position with members.]