GERALDINE HOTELS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13646, 14 July 1908, Page 6

GERALDINE HOTELS.

To the Editor of the " 'fimaiu Herald."

Sir, —The effusion of Mr 'Wreiitha.ll shows that he, as again under the 'influence of his former chronic and apparently incurable malady of cacoelhes scribendi, and of course the usual ' symptoms have displayed themselves, viz., a fixed idea that he or some of his friends is the subject of cowardly • and unjustifiable attacks by savage and vindictive enemies. He dreams dreams and he sees visions. He has discovered that there is dreadful immorality in the hotels of Geraldine, and lie is under the impression that iu these establishments he and other opponents of liquoi have been penalised by an extra, charge for the amount of food they have eaten; and such like vifcions of a disordered imagination. Possibly he may think that the innkeepers are like the butler who told his master, in arranging for a party of gentlemen, that if the guests were ordinary gentlemen ■they -would require more wine, but if they were teetotallers they -would require more meat. I have heard of teetotallers and good templars who would swallow a skinful of liquor if they could get it for nothing. The hotels of Geraldine - accommodate not only the people of the district, but the travelling business .men who are a very important section of their customers, and they <ire willing and eager to show that they are perfectly satisfied with the entertainment they receive at Geraldine; m fact they have already done so. Surely they are best qualified'to judge whether thev are 'properly treated or not. How often, I should like to know, lias the policeman or the worthy S'.M. inspected the interior arrangements of the hotels? The policeman is required to regulate and control the-.hotels both outside and insie'e. He has authority to admonish loafers to move on, and he .is empowered +0 enter and inspect hotels . by- day or ■. by night; so if he permits obstructions on the streets near the hotels or anywhere else,

be has. only himself to blame; the hotelkeeper cannot interfere with people outside his door. What I state about hotels', in Geraidine 1 know from experience as a visitor, and noli from sneaking round a comer counting heads, or from eavesdropping ana entrapping and enticing hotelkeepeis to break the law. Such proceedings are repugnant to British instincts of fair play, and will assuredly be condemned by fair-minded citizens of a free country.—l am, etc... I am, etc., VIATOR