ALLEGED EXPLOITATION

Otaki Mail, Volume XXVIII, 5 March 1920, Page 2

ALLEGED EXPLOITATION

JUDGE GILFEDDER CONDEMNS THE LEVIN HOTEL. At the quarterly meeting of the Otaki Licensing Bench at Otaki to-day Judge Gilfedder made strong comments anenfc the Levin Hotel. He said he was a judge of the Laud Court, and in consequence did a deal of travelling. Ho wished ao complain of the exploitation by some publicans. No doubt the cost of living had gone up, and the value of money fallen, but exploitation existcU For three days he stayed at tho Levin Hotel (Mr Subnn's), and found the accommodation was not what it. should have been for the charges. A notice appeared that U)C tariff was IDs per day, morning tea (id extra. These charges he considered exorbitant. He was given a small room with no wardrobe, no chest of drawers, only one hat peg, and a bed that did not oven have a post on which to hang his tro'isors. The value of the whole, furniture of the room would be about £l2, and would only probably bring £JO if put in an auction room. The place was not lighted by electricity or acetylene, but this be did not mind. He did object, however, to being supplied with a candle with no maUhes, which was inconvenient to non-smokers and ladies, and reminded ouo of the stone ages. There were not even newspapers to read. He had called the liensce's and the constable's attention to the state of affairs, and the licensee said he was complaining liefore he was hurt. He, however, had been charged 10s per day. In the interests of the travelling public he considered such a thing should be stopped, and contended that if botclkeepors were to be allowed to charge what they liked their houses would soon become drinking dens. He was no prohibitionist, but he objected to such a state of affairs. He contended also that very little attention was given to guests. Sn poorer classes of hotels lie did not mind when there were no newspapers and the like—they were not looked for, but Mr Suhan wa* a wealthy roan and bad recently trough*, a native block in the vicinity of Levin for £IOOO. Te thought Mr Suhan hhould pay more attention to his hotel, and suggested that tho police reports in June should show what accommodation was provided at hotels, and the charges. At present hotelkecpers charged what they liked, and this led to exploitation. Judge Gilfedder emphasised the fact that he had no objection to paying Ka per 'lay for good accommodation, but did object to pay 10s when 8", was quite sufficient. Such-a thiug was not right. Mr Stavclcy, at this juncture, said he had received a telephone message from Mr Suhan, who asked him to attend to the complaint. Mr Suhan admitted that the accommodation was not what it should have been, but this wan due to Mr Gilfedder not telegraphing, as usual, for a room, while members of the Chautauqua ocenpicu the main rooms. A» for morning tea bo one could say they were charged for it. Judge Gilfedder: No one took it, hence no charge. Mr Stavetey, continuing, said matches had been kit in the candlestiek, but had been taken by mistake by the servant.

•Judge GUfedder said this was not so —the matches taken from the candlestick were hia own, and not supplied by the publicaa. The Chairman considered complaints should be prat in writing, when investigations could be made, and then dealt with by the Bench, It was doubtful if the Bench tad the power to fix the tariff, bat if the protest was published it might have the desired effect. It seemed that the botelkeepera wanted to get rich quickly, arid he had no doubt hot that there was a lot in what the judge said -Judge Gilfedder said he would tMnk the matter over, and probably put bin complaint in writing. So doubt the press would publish, his remarks, and this would do good. The CSainaan, in conclusion, said tie Act gave the Bench, very little power to deal with such matters.