TOURIST TRAFFIC

Hokitika Guardian, 6 May 1927, Page 1

TOURIST TRAFFIC

ACCOMMODATION THE KEY. WELLINGTON, May 4. A placid round-table conference on overseas publicity with the Hon G. J. Anderson, Minister in Charge of Publicity jn the chair, suddenly developed into high tension to-night, when tourist accommodation came up and the .Minister inquired how the desired influx was to Ik 1 accommodated. Mr John Coyle, speaking for the licensing trade, said it was freely admitted that during the height of the tourist season the accommodation was no more than was actually required hy tin l trvelling public. To deal with greater traffic, more hotels were needed, hut to got them greater security was desired hy investors, and that would best ho done hy giving a longer tenure for the licensing trade. Over £300.000 had been expended in the last three years on new hotels and improvements. More would he expended if financial institutions were confident enough to provide more money, hut they were dubious over the insecure tenure anti the. upset every three years.

Mr Anderson: Do you wish us to think that the tourist is dependent on the liar traffic for the accommodation lie obtains? Mr Coyle: The bar traffic lias nothing to do with the accommodation provided, but the licensed hotel is preferred by tourists. T think, sir. you show that preference yourself. (Daughter).

Mr Anderson: You are on a thorny subject. Mr A. l.i. Hunt interrupted to assure the Minister that Mr Coyle was expressing his own opinion, which was not part of the considered decisions of the conference. Quite a number of delegates, be added, wore instructed to taboo this subject like the plague. Mr Coyle: No. Be fair. Another speaker: Be big enough.

Mr limit: Tf we mix this up with the licensing question we never will get anywhere.

Mr A. Pa ape (Dunedin) declared that the licensed trade was big enough to leave the bar question out. They were honestly endeavouring to cater for the tourists who they expected would come in. When it came to a busy season it would be impossible to cope with 10 per cent more travellers.

The Prime Minister had entered the room a few minutes earlier and listened to this phase of the discussion with great attention. He pointed out that if 10,000 was the greatest surplus which could be accommodated there \vas a lug

responsibility in inviting a large influx of tourists, a responsibility resting not oil individuals directly interested but on a young country whose credit would bo at stake. Tie bad gathered that Americans had explored the tourist possibilities of their own land and the East. They were now looking for fresh untrodden fields with novelty, and il New Zealand definitely catered lor overseas tourists it would he 40.000 not 10.000 who would come annually. Accommodation was the crux of the position. Tourist development must be tackled with clear vision. il We must not spend a lot of money in getting an influx of tourists ii it is going to do our country a bad turn. ' lie said. “We cannot- settle the licensing question here, but we must try to settle the accommodation question some way. We all admit the position, but nobody shows a- way out,’ “I will.” said Mr Coltman, a Wellington "hotelkeeper. “With guarantoed tenure the licensed trade would spend not- less that a million within three years for the accommodation oi overseas tourist. That’s an answer which costs the Government nothing.” Mr Coates: We have no alternative until Parliament meets but to consider the position as it is,