EXHIBITION RUSH

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 137, 7 December 1938, Page 9

EXHIBITION RUSH

ACCOMMODATION OF

VISITORS

An assurance of full co-operation in arranging accommodation during the Exhibition period was contained in a resolution carried by the council of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce last night. The resolution was carried with practically no discussion, but several members expressed the view that, while a great many visitors could be expected, Wellington could provide adequate accommodation for them.

The estimate by the Exhibition Company of the total visits to the Exhibition was 5,000.000, said Captain S Holm. The population of the Wellington urban area was 153,000, and if these made an average of 16 visits each to the Exhibition that would' account for 2,448.000 visits, leaving about •2.500,000 visits by visitors to Wellington. The Exhibition was;to; be open for 160 days, so there would be an average of over 15.000 visits a day Allowing two visits a day per visitor accommodation would be required each day for over 7000 visitors. Allowing that one-third would be privately accommodated, 5000 would have to be provided for.

"This figure will, of course, be greatly exceeded on special occasions, but on such occasions it is to be expected that, because of modern travel facilities, many visitors will not stay in the city overnight." Captain Holm said "The Exhibition authorities realise to the full that special efforts will need to be made if the problem is to be adequately solved, and from information at my disposal I am confident that the facilities offered by motor camps, by existing hostels specially catering for these vistors. such as the V.M.C.A.. etc.. by special accommodation, such as is being arranged at the Winter Show buildings, by approved private house accommodation, and by the normal hotel and boarding-house accommodation, will more than suffice. In addition to proyiding the means for accommodation, arrangements are being made to enable visitors to register and book their accommodation in any part of the Dominion, and with as little inconvenience as possible. "I think that in view of the Reeling tha* may be existent to the effect that the accommodation problem is a serious one, this explanation should be made, and I move:—'That, while this chamber realises the difficulties which are being faced by the Exhibition Company in providing adequate and suitable accommodation fr Exhibition visitors, it is confident that such accommodation, and the arrangements throughout the Dominion to enable prospective visitors to book same, can be made available, and offers to co-operate in this regard in any way possible.'" The resolution was carried.