QUEENSTOWN HOTEL ISSUE

Lake County Mail, Issue 14, 27 August 1947, Page 2

QUEENSTOWN HOTEL ISSUE

Sir, —Your article on the front page of last issue under the heading “ Influence by Minister Alleged ” appears to me to be a mountain made out of a molehill. y In these days of Government and local bodies’ red tape the most natural thing for any businessman to do is to make use of any influence he can bring to bear to assist the progress of his business. If a man is fortunate enough to have influence, there is surely no sane reason why he should not use it to promote the betterment of his business. We all do it where we can. I read with a certain amount of wonder that amazement is expressed that this work should be permitted. Perhaps the editor of this paper would be interested to know that one of the members of the Queenstowm Borough Council is at present engaged on similar work at another hotel in Queenstown. Much criticism has been, and still is, levelled at the standard of accommodation in Queenstown, but every time any of the hotel proprietors, do anything in the way of improvements someone has to start making a fuss. Perhaps the proprietor of the White Star Hotel did beat the pistol in regard to the starting of his alterations, but, knowing that the permit was assured, this was no unforgivable sin. With labour sometimes more difficult to obtain than materials, and the holiday season rapidly approaching, I am sure the contractor did what nine out of 10 contractors would have done. If the local council would co-operate instead of hindering with pin-pricking then perhaps there wmuld be more progress in the towui and less alleged streetcorner gossip.—l am, etc.. Progress.

Already a notice has been issued that all persons desiring to give evidence should give notice in writing before September 5 to the Secretary, Eoyal Commission on the Sheep Industry, P.O. Box 3004, Wellington. Persons or organisations desiring to buy copies of the evidence presented to the commission should also give notice to the secretary not later than the same date. The view of the farmers’ official organisation is that the Government is showing its obvious goodwill and good intentions in the whole matter. It obviously desires to know the full facts of the sheep industry and is setting about the collection' of those facts in a manner satisfactory to the farmers.