THE COUNTRY HOTELS DISPUTE.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1139, 8 February 1912, Page 20

THE COUNTRY HOTELS DISPUTE.

AUCKLAND L. V. ASSOCIATION OFFICIALS TAKE A HAND. CONDITIONS INVESTIGATED ON THE SPOT. The President (Mr. J. S. Palmer) and secretary (Mr. J. H. Pagni) of the Auckland Licensed Victuallers’ Association, who with Mr. G. H. Foster, a member of the executive ofl. that body, are acting as assessors in the “dispute” that is alleged to have iarisen between the Auckland Hotel and Restaurant Employees’ Union and the provincial hotelkeepers of Auckland, had quite an interesting experience last week and agiain on Monday this week, when they toured the country districts as far as Tel Aroha, visiting and conferring with every hotelkeeper en route, and on Monday proceeded northwjards as far as Kaukapakapa, returning thence via the Wade and Devonport to Auckland. In both instances the journey was undertaken by motor car, so that the tourists had a good opportunity of seeing the country, and were able to fake their time over the business they had in hiand. * * # TOURING SOUTHWARDS. In the first instance a start was made from Auckland on Anniversary Day (Monday week), Messrs. Palmer iand Pagni, with Mr. Moorhouse as chaffeur, making an early start in Mr. Pagni’s 23 h.p. Daimler, a fine machine that seems to have been built for the express purpose of iannihil’.ating distance. The object of the expedition was two-fold. In the first place the tourists were desirous of investigating the labour conditions in the country hotels for themselves; in the next instance they were desirous of conferring with and counselling the hotelkeepers upon the demands that are being made upon them. The weather was exceptionally favourable for the trip, and the Main South Road, for the first portion of the. journey at least, was in excellent condition for motoring. Thus a quick run wias made to Papakura, the first place of call, where Messrs. E. T. Bradley, of the Globe, and W. Parkinson, of the Papakura Hotel, "were interviewed, Mr. Parkinson joining the party >at this stage and travelling with them through to Te Aroha and back again. At Drury the local hotelkeeper, Mr. D. J. Jackman, of the Drury Hotel, received the party with open Arms, and after inspecting the arrangements of the house (a duty that was performed in each instance) and discussing the demands made by the employees, the journey was resumed, Pukekohe being the next place on the list. At the Franklin electoral centre Mr. and Mrs. J. Graham received the party, inquiries being further made into local labour conditions. Tuakau (Mr. M. Foley) Jand Mercer (Mr. W. C.

Rickett) were next visited, similar inquiries being made in both cases. Then the tourists sped on to Ranga-, riri, where Mr. E. T. Bain received them with cordial hospitality. At Huntly, Mr. L. Harris welcomed them, and at Taupiri they found thlat Mr. George Inglis was on the eve of relinquishing business, and was transferring the license to a new comer to the district. This fact did not, however, prevent a little talk on the labour difficulty, iand the visitors gained additional information there also. Ngaruawahia, with its two hotels, the Delta kept by Mr. M. Ryan and the Waipa by Mr. D. Draffin wjas next visited. Here further conferences took place, and the party next proceeded to Hamilton, where the party stayed for the night, conferring with such of the local licensees as were available. Mr. G. B. Plooper, of the Hamilton Hotel, and Mrs. Hooper, were awjay, but Mr. G. Bodley, of the Commercial, Mrs. Main, of the Waikato, and Mr. J. T. Coghlan, of the Royial, were available, and the local labour conditions were discussed with them during the evening. * * * THE SECOND DAY’S BUSINESS. An early start was made for Cambridge on Tuesday, the 3 oth, and the fine weiather continuing, the run across country was greatly enjoyed, the beautiful landscapes that form such -an 'attraction in the Central Waikjato being much admired by the visitors. “I do not think I have ever’ seen more perfect scenery of its kind,” Mr. Palmer told the interviewer, “nor a more typically English landscape. Cambridge reminded me very much of an old Englislh country town. The air there seemed to be very bracing, and I liked the look of the pliace. They have a fine town hall there, and the town has a prosperous look about it. There are three hotels there. The Masonic was burnt down a few weeks before Christmas. It is being rebuilt, of course, but at present the licensee* Mr. W. S. King, has to confine his business te the bjar trade. Mr. J. Walters has the National Hotel and Mr. A. Thomas the Central. Both are well appointed and the comfort of the guests seems to be studied in every , ; way. Ffom Cambridge we 5 proceeded to Morrinsville, where Mr. J. Gianley lias the Nottingham Hotel and is doing a good business. We discussed the labour conditions here also, and t-hen left for Te Aroha,, calling en route at Waihou, where Mr. P. Farquhar has the Wiaihou Hotel, a decidedly superior country house, well kept and well found, and possessing all the comforts of a home. At Te Aroha we met with the most hospitable treatment, the three licensees vieing with one Another in their attentions to our little party; indeed they seemed hardly able to make enough of us. Mr. McSweeney has the Griand Hotel, Mr R. L. Somers the Hot Springs Hotel, and Mr. B. Goldwater the Palace Hotel. We conferred 'with them upon the vital topic of the hour, and gained An insight into the labour difficulty that would not have been possible otherwise. Mr. Somers escorted us through the Domain and did the honours of the town, introducing us to the lions of the place, making matters very agreeiable for us. We were also able to try the waters and to take one of the hot mineral baths for which the ’spa is famous. Altogether it was very pleasant and enjoyable experience, so much so that we decided to remain for the night. * * * MR. PALMER’S IMPRESSIONS. “We left Te Aroha on the return trip early on Wednesday) mo/rning, and had a good run through to town arriving in Auckland at eight o’clock the same evening. En route we called

in at Frankton, and saw the licensee of the Frankton Hotel, Mr. Moriarty, whom we had missed on the outward run. The return thence to Auckland was uneventful. At Papakura, which we reached about 6.45 p.m., Mr. Parkinson left us, and in another hour and a-quarter we were home ourselves.” Asked if he had any comments to mjake upon the trip, Mr. Palmer said: “We were particularly impressed with the generally excellent conduct of the houses we visited, especially as, in some instances, local and other conditions do not make for easy working. In more than one instance we found the wife of the licensee compelled to undertake work, both in the kitchen and scullery that most certainly should not be required of her. The heavy drudgery thus forced upon them is far from satisfactory. Generally speaking I returned home well satisfied that there is a genuine desire on the part of country licensees to work hanhoniously together—not merely in their own interests, but in those of the public, a general desire 'being expressed to see improved conditions and methods of working inaugurated. Following the citation of the country hotel-keepers, everyone of whom is individually cited to appear before the Conciliation Council on Thursday, the next move must undoubtedly be in the direction of favouring an Auckland Provincial Licensed Victuallers’ Association, either as a branch of the Auckland L.V.A., or as an independent body affiliated to that association. You may,” Mr. Palmer added, “take it that we had a very successful trip.” * * * A RUN UP NORTH. Monday’s run northwards proved just as successful as its forerunner of the previous week. The party, which on this occasion consisted of Messrs. J. S. Palmer, J. H. Pagni, Mr. Moonhouse (chauffeur) and a representative of the “Sporting and Dramatic Review,” and Mr. Palmer’s son, left Auckland at a-quarter to eight and proceeding via the old North-road past the once famous Stone Jug and the Avondale Asylum made for Helensville via Henderson and Kumen, the first call being made at the White House Hotel at - Kumeu North. The licensee, Mr. J. W. Griffin, had, however, left for town by the early train that morning, and the visitors were unable to do more than leave their compliments and best wishes. Up to this point the road had been fairly good, but for the next few miles the “Great North-road, “as it is called by the settlers and those who travel over it, proved to be somewhat of a delusion and a snare, ' disappearing in the grass altogether at Rewiti, and leaving the party uncertain, for the time being, whether the “road” had not vanished altogether. Thence out into Woodhill, it proved to be a narrow metal track, partly hidden by jgrjass iwith flax swamps on either side. What would have happened had a vehicle come Along jta the opposiite direction it would be hard to say. But then, were we not entering “the roadless North?” ♦ » * HELENSVILLE AND BACK. Helensville has three hotels. The first visited was .the Kaipara, run by that genial soul and good fellow Tom McEwin, who has the assistance of Mrs. McElwin, and his two sons in the business. The parity were made very welcome here. At the Helensville Hotel, the licensee, Mr. P. J. Langley,-, was found making ready to quit the premises, the house having been sold over his head, and the purchaser being desirous of takingover the license himself. The former proprietor of the hotel had held possession for eleven years, withoujt having a lease, and Mr. Langley had been advised that he would be all right. So eighteen months. ago he took possession of the place, spent £250 in improvements, and now has to clear out. The visitors were duly sympathetic, but time pressing passed on to the Terminus Hotel, where Mr. E. J. R. Smith, most genial of hosts,

had a warm handshake and welcome for them. Thence to Kaukakapaka with its two hotels, the Bridge Hotel kept by Mr. S. Mclvor (the name betrays his nationality, and the visitors found him true to the best traditions of his race), and to the Kaukapakapa Hotel, which recently changed hands. Mr. E. M. Leydon being the new licensee. The grounds at the latter hotel are fairly extensive and include a good orchard and garden. Mrs. Leydon has charge If the household arrangements, and looks after the comfort of her guests in exemplary fashion. From Kaukapakapa the return journey was made via Wade and Devonport. At the Wade Hotel, the licensee, Mr. J. Scholium, welcomed the visitors and discussed the “demands,” made on behalf of the labour union with Messrs. Palmer and Pagni. Then the final stage of the journey was entered upon, the party arriving in Devonport shortly after five o’clock.