RURAL HOTELS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 939, 8 December 1933, Page 5

RURAL HOTELS.

Redistribution for Benefit of Tourists.

CHANGE IN LAW SUGGESTED.

Redistribution of rural hotels as a means of increasing tourist traffic and hastening the return of prosperity to New Zealand is suggested by Mr John Fuller, of John Fuller and Sons, Ltd. A letter from Mr Fuller to the presi-

dent was read at a meeting of the council of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce last night. He stated that there was a large tourist traffic from overseas as well as internally, and it was a sad reflection on New Zealand civilisation when one considered what people had to put up with owing to the present obsolete licensing laws.

“If there was a redistribution of rural hotels, built on the bungalow principle, accommodating about twelve people, to

places that suited the travelling public and tourists in general,” the letter continued, “it would help towards the general prosperity of this country and would cause a lot of employment.

“Take, for instance, the hotels in Greymouth and Westport, where so

many hotels are almost next door to one another in two towns only. What a difference it would make towards the prosperity of Christchurch and the West Coast in particular if these hotels’ licenses were transferred to places near the wonderful trout streams.”

Mr Norton Francis said that whilst the chamber a.lways refused to take sides on the liquor question, the suggestion made by Mr Fuller did not entail an increase in the number of licenses and was worthy of consideration. He moved that the letter be referred to the joint committee with the Canterburv Progress League to consider whether something might be done to assist the tourist resorts. Mr M. J. Burns said that the licensing laws had developed on peculiar lines and were due for a complete overhaul. The motion that the letter be referred to the joint committee for consideration was carried.