COUNCIL NOT TO PROCEED WITH TRUST HOTEL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 83, 16 August 1950, Page 5

COUNCIL NOT TO PROCEED WITH TRUST HOTEL

As it has learnt that all finance for trust hotels must be found by' the public, the Whakatane Borough Council has decided not to proceed with a poll on the question of a trust hotel in the town.

At a on Monday night, the Council had before it correspondence giving conditions for the establishment of the proposed hotel. “The more I consider this matter, the more F dislike the idea of trust hotels,” said the Mayor, Mr B. S. Barry* at the meeting of the Borough Council. Councillors supported him. Local bodies involved with trust hotels would be glad to wash theii hands of them, Mr Barry said. Much finance must be asked from the , public, with inadequate security. As far as he knew, the only new hotel licence in which the breweries were interested was at Tokoroa. He would like to see another hotel here to supply accommodation, said Cr H. G. Warren, but he felt that refreshment needs were sufficiently supplied. The cost of a poll to decide it a trust hotel should be formed and the preparation of an architect s plan alone would cost a consideiable amount, said the Mayor. Cr R. T. Morpeth said an hotel of the size and standard required by the Licensing Commission could not be expected to pay. Perhaps something short of a poll could be taken to decide what public opinion was. Mr' Barry thought that the Council should decide at the meeting whether or not to hold a poll. “In applying for permission for a poll, we acted on public enthusiasm. Now we know more about it and have changed our minds,” said Cr Morpeth. Crs A. O’Rourke and R. S. Buttimore spoke similarly. • Unless a poll attracted a full attendance of voters, the position could be dangerous, Councillors thought. “If the public realised that they must find all the finance, they would realise no borough could stand it,’ said Cr O’Rourke. Mr Barry moved that, in view of information obtained, the application to hold a poll be withdrawn. The motion was carried.