CONDUCT OF HOTELS IN INVERCARGILL DEFENDED BY TRUST

Wanganui Chronicle, 12 May 1947, Page 5

CONDUCT OF HOTELS IN INVERCARGILL DEFENDED BY TRUST

Invercargill, May 7. Following a recent statement by the Minister of Justice, Mr. Mason, that the Government was not happy aliput the working of the Invercargill Licensing Trust, a special meeting was held yesterday afternoon, when members expressed their views and outlined progress made since the introduction of the system. “Members of the Trust cannot reconcile statements attributed to the Government that it is not happy about the Licensing Trust with views previously expressed,” said the chairman, Mr. H. Ritchie. “The Trust has had no adverse comment from the Government, and all visiting Ministers had gone out of their way to comment on the conduct of the hotels. “We claim to have brought the standard of accommodation to as high a level as possible, considering the shortage of building materials and furnishings.” said Mr. Ritchie. “The Trust receives no special consideration in obtaining building permits, but is quite satisfied that the accommodation offered here compares well with that offered anywhere else. We doubt if control hy private enterprise would have done anything better. The Trust at present has plans completed for four buildings and alterations, and when permits are issued, those will proceed. The Trust is a genuine cross section of the community and the members are men who have travelled throughout New Zealand and abroad. They are unanimous in the opinion that advantages under Trust control outweigh disadvantages, and are satisfied that drinking to-day in Invercargill is conducted under much better circumstances than it would be under private control. “We also deny a ntmour that the Invercargill Trust control is a mild form of State control. This is absolutely erroneous, as never at any time since it was inaugurated has the Government. given a direction to members, nor is it in a position to to so, according to the Act. We think these facts should be made clear so that the peonle of Masterton will view, the position in a proner perspective.”