CHARGE OF INHOSPITALITY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10103, 15 March 1911, Page 1

CHARGE OF INHOSPITALITY.

REPLY BY DIRECTOR OF LINCOLN COLLEGE. At yesterday's meeting of the Board of Governors of the Canterbury Agricultural College, at Lincoln, the Director (Mr R. K. Alexander) made a, statement in reply to certain strictures passed upon hirn in the columns of a Christchurch newspaper in connection with the outing tendered to the inmates of the Sumner School for the Deaf and the Waltham Orphanage by the Canterbury Automobile Association, a vear ago. Ho stated that on April 20, 1910, he received a letter from the secretary of the Canterbury Automobile Association, asking him if he would allow the children to use the College grounds on April 30. He replied that they would be pleased to see the children out there and would allow them-to roam about the grounds. On April 28, two days before the visit, he was asked if he would get the maids to provide tea, milk and hot water. He happened to be away on the morning this letter came, and did not get into communication with the secretary until the afternoon of the day before that on which the children were to_ be there. He then found out from that gentleman that the numbers likely to come would be so great that they would have to send a special messenger to town to get cups. Mr Alexander told the secretary he could not provide tea for the children, for two reasons—(l) he had not the necessary equipment for providing tea, and (2) he had no authority to spend College funds for such a purpose. He said he would provide hot water and milk, which they had ready when the children arrived, but the Association then seemed to be annoyed over the matter. He thought it Avas time that the outside public understood that the College was not a first-class hotel, where they had nothing to do but ring up and order an unlimited number of meals to be provided on short notioo, and also that the endowments set aside for the College never were intended for entertaining the general public. He might say that, unless instructed otherwise, he would see that they were not used for such a purpose. Ho could not see his way to entertain on behalf of the Automobile Association out of his own pocket, and he had no authority to do so for the College. The Director's action in this matter was confirmed by the Board, and thorough approval of his actions was expressed by members.