PRINCE OF WALES'S VISIT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 166, 9 April 1920, Page 8

PRINCE OF WALES'S VISIT

EXTRA ACCOMMODATION

PROVISION FOR VISITORS

GOVERNMENT TAKING ACTION

In view of the likelihood of difficulty being experienced by visitor? in ■jbtaiuiiijj accommodation during the \isit of ills Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, the Government has decided to set up an inquiry bureau at the four principal centres and the larger towns which will bo visited by the Royal Party. It is considered that tho post offices at the places concerned will be most central and suitablo premises for the purpose. At tho inquiry counter in the public portion of the G.1'.0. in Wellington, an' officer will be available to assist visitors to obtain suitable .accommodation. An appeal'will shortly be made to proprietors of hotels, private hotels, boardinghouses, aud other persons who have suitablo accommodation available to supply the inquiry office with particulars of'such accommodation, including tariff. The Government hopes that with these facilities a large number of visitors can bo provided for. It is expected that in addition to rlio ordinary visitors tliero will be a lorgo number of returned soldiers and a considerable number of sailors or. shore leave at the ports where 11.11.5. Renown will berth, fo' far as Wellington is concerned, the Y..M.0.A. and the Salvation Army hnve already agreed to provide ■extra accommodation for several hundreds. Tho same organisations are also endeavouring to make similar arrangements at Auckland, New Plymouth, Wa> nganui. Napier, Palmerston North. Nelson, Beef ton. Greymoutli. jlokitikn, Cliristchurch, Dunedin, and Invetvargill.

\ Tho shortage of accommodation may prove particularly severe in Wellington, where the hotels and .boardinghousos generally are full in normal times. A great influx of visitors from the country towns and districts will create a very serious position unless special preparations are made in advance. The Internal Affairs Department, which has the matter in hand on behalf of the Government, haa arranged for a large supply of blankets and palliasses, and it is going, to advise country visitors to bring their own rugs whenever possible.' This will apply particularly to returned soldiers, who u.-m----ally are in possession of suitablo bedding. The Y.JI.C.A. and the Sanation Army will provide all the accommodation they are able to place at ilio disposal of visitors. Representatives of these organisations are going from Wellington to the other centres to see what special arrangements can he made there.