HOUSING EXHIBITION VISITORS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 831, 8 February 1906, Page 23

HOUSING EXHIBITION VISITORS.

Referring to the problem of what is to be done with them when they arrive. the “ New Zealand T mes” says that Superintendent E. Smith, of the Christchurch Brigade, estimates that the hotels of that erty cou’d accommodate, at a pinch, 4000 peop’e. Boardinghouses could “put up”. 4500 more, while some 2000 visitors will no doubt stay with pr'vate friends. If th? accommodation enumerated above did not come up to demands,- the Drillshed might be secured, and here from 700 to 1000 cou’d be provided with bads for the night, and, as a .last resource, the Exh"bition authorities might erect frame buildings, wth canvas coverings. Mr. Smith is of the opin’on that the authorities should issue a handbook giving the names of all hote’s and places where accommo-

dation can be obtained, These books should be distr buted freo, and there should be a central office in the city and at the railway station, where the wants of strangers could be readily attended to. Asked to roughly estimate the I‘mit of the city’s capacity for dealing with an influx of visitors, he said he d d not think a great deal of difficulty would be experienced in providing for 25,000 or 30,000 people. Our contemporary questions whether the “ extra” housing facilities and the temporary arrangements are likely to satisfy thousands of. people who ’ntend visiting the Exhibition. People used to moderate comfort and the attent on bestowed at hotels that claim to cater for the public are not going ino a tent, or a barn, or a skeleton building, or even a board nghouse. On the face of it there appears to be a good deal of wisdom ’i a suggestion that the Exhibition Executive should erect and equ’p a large commodious buPding for the use of those people who are willing and prepared to pay for good accommodation, but who are unable to find lodgings at the lead’ng hotels. Otherwise, we fear that visitors from We’lington will find it Incumbent upon themselves to include in their luggage a few tents, and perhaps a b ; lly and a colonial oven.