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Hokitika Guardian, 26 October 1923, Page 2

It is not. pleasant to have to ’.efer again to tb 0 inadequacies of the local train service, but events during the past week call lor publicity in the hope that sooner than later >ome legitimate, relief will be afforded. It would oO far mote pleasant to praise than to blame, but there is no room lei the former and far mo much Im th:i Ettrr. As matters stand, a great mi quite is being pat. upon ibis community. Travellers t.o and from leikitilei nr. subiected to a i.mditioii of inconvenience which threaten;- to biomi' p,vl,ament. Trains continue to run rite, and altogether there is a most inditiei cut service. It would appear tin l the engines are overloaded, or surely letter time could ! > ( , made. Ibe’e ban been many s|eri.il trains of 'ate. but vet the ordinary trains continue to run far behind schedule time. This on top .:■! til,, impost put upon southern trillib; uj and from Christchurch hating to change trains at (ireymouth, is rk-om, the las; straw. For far too long me.v this great injustice has l revailed, with no uHirin'l indication of early ”oliei. If the Minister of Railways is to visit, the Don't soon. Mr Coates should be invited 1.. the Town Hall where tho citizens could be given an opportunity to < xpress their indignation. It is to v hoped some united move will he made to bring t"e position as forcibly as possible before the Government.

Tiik police repott in regard to ho' -1 accommodation should help to impress the fact on licensees that their obligations to the public are material. The Incensing Bench was quite right n its aetien. which was an endeavor to bring hoieds up to a standard and to modem requirements. Tho better the class of lmhcl which is established, the more secure will be the tenure unde" the 1,-y r&’tijm j'oU. T'lw* j «.*»► S;iivi v ro'mnlv in t’ltti tlvoii* t i.rifts may be in keeping with the seoi-.- of the aecommodat am provided, dn the Coast genet aTy tarilf.s are invariably low. The licensees have not taken advanteue of a posit inn vbereby they could have levied very i.asily a higher tarilf. Blit whatever the charges, it is imperative to provide a ela.-s of nceohimodnticiii which will be in keeping with the time's. Thu investigation locally was a very clo-e one. evidently mote so than at (ircymoi.tli. Here, intimate p.iu iieulars of each house were I'rovided for me information of the Bench. and it is clear that in some instances ini provements will requite to be nude There are of course a number ot hotels, but it. is now essential that quality is to accompany quantity, and to rerndi t.ho standa.nl necessary tho overhaul H-qiiiros to be very thorough.

11 r.NKliAi.i.v speaking the hotels cater for the class of trade which patronises the house. film places are old established, and have a district connection which has been retained over many veins. Times arc (banging now. ’1 he older generation is passing away. A newer generation b taking tin* place of the former, and with the changing times, an improved standard <>l hotel convenience is being established. Ihe public travel more nowadays, 'lhey go filltlior afield, and .since the Const, has become linked up with the South Island railway system, the visitors will come from all parts of New Zealand. Hotels will be expected, therefore, to eater lor all classes, and not for oti 0 class. It will be difficult for visitors to differentiate. Each hotel will be the same to them, and lhey will look for modern facilities and conveniences wherever they go. A weightier responsibility is thus thrown on the licensee, who must regard the ] revision of adequate accommodation as his first duty to ihe public. Tho reform promised in the licensing; law is likely to cover this aspect rather definitely but in the mean, time the Licensing Bench has given pointed direction in the matter, and it will be for the licensees to note Hio position, and prepare to imw-t- the obligations which are to lie laid upon then, specially.