Four Government Tourist Hotels Seek Licences

Chronicle (Levin), 12 July 1949, Page 5

Four Government Tourist Hotels Seek Licences

WELLINGTON, July 12. Applications for licences for four Government Tourist hotels — The Chateau, Tongariro, Hotel Waitomo, Lake House (Waikaremoana) and Hotel Milford — have been made by the Department of Tourist and Health Resorts, sa'id witnesses at the first public sitting today of the Licensing Control Commission. The commission heard j preliminary evidence 'which will help it decide how 25 tourist house licences are to be distributed throughout New Zealand. The sitting was largely attended, including counsel representing almost every major tourist house in the Dominion, three members of Parliament, representatives of the Police, Tourist and Health Departments and interested commercial organisations. The ch'airman of the commission,

Mr. said ahy licences granted would carry the right to^supply liquor to lodgers or employees only for consumption on licensed premises, and to those who actually partook of meals and then only if served as part of a meal. The commission itself ~ had no power to grant tourist house hcence in any non-licence area at all.* Its funetions, said Mr. Goulding, were, firstly, to fix the loc&lities in which licences were to be granted; secondly, fix a fair price which subsequent applicants should pay for the privilege of obtaining a licence; and, thirdly, settle the standard of accommodation and amenities which should be provided. Sittings and i^iquiries in other places would be required before all the localities could be determined. The hearing is proceeding.