The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 1928. HOTEL ACCOMMODATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 March 1928, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 1928. HOTEL ACCOMMODATION.

In the N.Z. Architectural and Building Review of current issue there is an interesting article on hotel accommodation in New Zealand. It is written ! liy Mr (1. M. Fowlds, who discourses very intimately on his subject. The Tourist League is an Auckland orgauiI sation in the main, and is doing all it can to publish abroad the attractions of the Dominion from a tourist point of view. The League recognises the increasing signs of New Zealand coming into its own as a scenic, sport r and health resort. Newspapers are ' readily publishing views and opinions ok distinguished people on the special assets of the Dominion luring visitors from all parts of the world. The number of tourists is increasing now, year by year, and with the further pubI licitv going ahead it is anticipated the ■ increase will continue to steadilv grow, i Countries which devote special attonj tion to tourist traffic reap a special harvest from that source. On the oon- | tinent of Europe and elsewhere there | are countries which depend practically on tourist traffic as their main source ! of prosperity. Such places are chielly within easy reach of millions of ]K?ople, and travel is not costly, nor is time long drawn out in travel. New Zealand is remotely situated from the masses of the people who patronise other resorts in such great numbers. The time occupied in travelling, to say nothing of the cost, has a restrictive effect on the total to reach here. But with the fame of the country going abroad, and wealthier people desiring to visit new places, New Zealand in its potential resources has much to offer the visitor. Mr Fowlds realises the value of catering for this class of traffic which would he in the way to spend freely if drawn here, and which on tour seeks always the liost of everything. He considers that with the small population over so many scattered centres. New Zealand has done well in the way of accommodation, but for the special traffic it i- possible to develop a higher grade of accommodation which is needed. lie considers that well catered for H kind of traffic referred to would leave l>etwcon two and three millions annully for circulation generally, aml to induce that ex]>enditure for the public good, tlie expansion of accommodation is an urgent need. He details some thirty centres in New Zealand as headquarters to cater for the special traffic referred to. and estimates a total expenditure of £I.L>.V----000 is necessary over three croups, which lie divides as follows:—Urgent, secondary and eventual. The places in the urgent group in the following order n tp: Auckland. Dunedin. Hokitika. ( Rotorua. Timarn, Tongariro Park a<*d 'Wellington. Tn selecting Hokitika Mr Fowlds points out it is the stopping place for Wniho, Christchurch and J Westport traffic and considers an ex- . penditure estimated at £30,000 is the approximate cost to meet requirements in one town. A similar outlay is

needed in liis opinion at Rotorua and Timaru, while in the provincial centres he sets the approximate expenditure down at £150,OIK) each. From what Mr Fowlils says it is clear the general situation has had a close review, and liis views are sure to oxeite a. good deal of interest. The trouble will lie in giving semblance to the proposals. Capital is of course shy of hotel expenditure with the prohibition issue recurring with such regularity. The insecurity of tenure discourages enterprise in rebuilding operations. The people of New Zealand have boon told by a spokesman on behalf of the licensed victuallers that if there were security of tenure for hotel licenses, there would he an immediate expenditure of a million pounds to improve and enlarge hotel accommodation in this country. In that way private enterprise would shoulder whatever responsibility there was in tho matter, and would he preferable to the State sinking thousands of pounds as it is now doing for a spec ial class of traffic at the Hermitage. Milford Sound. Waitomo Caves. Bake To Allan and so on. will I e seen that the subject is a large cue. Yet it is one for individual attention rather than for State action, hut until tho bugbear of tenure is overcome there will he the opening always lor complaints about lack of superior accommodation for the wealthy tourist. The conditions themselves will mend the p-ositinn r:in<-e free play is allowed. In other words, demand and supply will operate to fill requirements.