COUNTRY HOTELS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 10, 6 October 1917, Page 8

COUNTRY HOTELS

A DIFFICULT POSITION. The difficulties of the country hotels under the six o'clock closing law -cere stated by witnesses who appeared before the Statutes' Revision Committee. "I have had some information regarding a new hotel owned by me," said one witness. '"The tenant has intimated that if the provisions of the Bill now before Parliament are agreed to he does- not propose to -wait for any question of compensation from the landlord. He wonld not stay even if I did not charge any rent at all. 1 put it to you that the male population in the country districts lias been so depleted by the war that the volume of business done by the country hotels is a gradually declining one. Not only has tho busine.<e been reduced, but the profits have boen re. duced by the increase in wholesale prices. ■ , . "In my own easf I have had a joint application, from my tenants during the last six mouths for a, reduction of their rents; that was long before Ihiß pix o'clock closing proposal came before Parliament. In several cases the reduction of rent was agreed to, because I knew of my own knowledge that the tenants were not able to engage in the businp-ss profitably at tho rents they were paying. These rents in the country districts are nothin? like as high as tho rents paid in Wellington. lam speakin" of cases where the weekly rent is from XS to £1 per week. There, is cm house of which I am owner that prior to the -war was producing «. rent of -SB 10s. per week, tho tenant paying the insurance. This house was improved by order of tho Licensing Committee, the amount of money spent by me. on the property being .EHOO. 1 am now taking C 5 per week rent for the improved house and T am paying the ineiininen mvself The tenant has since iirjjprl that the reduced trade warrants him in asking for a further rrdnction of rent. ThotVtis prior to this six o'clock clos. ing lam not so much concerned as the other witnesses were regarding the discussion-more or lew academic-ot Iho tribunal that is to adjust rents. I am afraid that there will W no rent to adjudicate upon in very many cases. You have heard evidence regarding the conditions in Wellington, where men have teen induced by war conditions to civo very large sums for goodwill far more thiin they would give under ordinary conditions. The difficulties of the peoplo in the country districts are much greater."

Mr. H. Ernest Lcishlon .•ulvertfees details of several city and suburhan properties, a. registrar's sale of ,H aeree, six-roomed house, ntablcs. etc.. situated a.t, the Lower Hutt. o.nd full particulars of tho Woburn Estate, whiflb ie rich flat land, subdivided into areas from a. quarter to two and n. half acres in oitent. Pull details will be found In our advertiains columne.