ACCOMMODATION PROBLEM.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 January 1917, Page 7

ACCOMMODATION PROBLEM.

attraction of tourists. ' THE QUESTION' CONSIDERED. "J am sorry I have no vacancies," was the disappointing rcplv givrn airain ;tpel again to the tired visitor? a-: thev (ramped from accommodation house to accommodation house in vareh of hoard. Tile inadequate aeeommodalion in Nev\' Plymouth lias been particular!} felt dur--ing the recent holidays, and ilio question of allording increased facilities in this direction has exercised the minds o: many who have the interests, of the town at heart. Tt also formed tin. ...b----jc-cl of a special meeting of the \.y,v Plvmo'nth Tourist and Expans :i Lea;!!-..? 011 Monday evening. 31r ,). I! Cruiekshank presided, in the absence of ihe c-1 airman, Mr. T.,C. List Others present were: Messrs F. Jackson, A. ll'Hardy, ,T. Clarke, .1. C. AJorey. S. U' Shaw, iiaker, and \Y. A. Colli* (secretary).

The meeting went very fully into the question of accommodation, and was unanimously of the opinion that the time had arrived when the league shoubl take the matfei up and eoilect dat.i, either for the use of private enterprise, which might undertake to piovide increased accommodation, or to j'\ce before a public meeting to he pnlicd to gj int the whole question. Members .of the league had been very much impressed, particularly during the recent holidays, with the difil-nlty experienced by many visitors in securing suitable accommodation. Such cases had come under the personal knowledge of the committee, whilst further corroboration, was' provid ed bv the oiTice of the league itself, which had been kept exceptionally busy during the holidays. U was pointed out that if New Plymouth waits maintain the name it bad already won as an id'.-ii! tourist and holiday resort, additional accommodation was imperative. As the result of tli6 advertising scheme of the league, an increasing number of tourists nnd holiday-makers was bring attractedto the town, and each of these who v.\;s fortunate enough to secure good accommodation went away as n further advertising medium, whilst 011 the other !ia::<i, with those people who were unable to procure satisfactory accomn-odntion, the leverse ivas the case. The town was moving ahead vary rapidly as a holiday resort, and the time was therefore opportune to launch a scheme, either by private enterprise or otherwise, to core to som'n extent, with the increased demands teing made upon t ( he town's resources. The soundness of tvoh a projaot from the point of view of an investment was touched upon, more especially, so far as the business people who catered for the wants and requirement of visitors were concerned. Tt was further pointed out that tho holiday traffic at the present time was confined to New Zealandws, whereas after the war it would be necessary to cater for a very lerge number of visitors from abroad. The requirements of the travelling public could rot be catered for vithHhc existing- accommodation.

A sub-committee consisting of Messrs I.ist, C'ruickshßiik, and Clarkr was an pointed to go fully into to obtain offers of suitable sites, plans, and other particulars, and report to a future meeting of the league as a preliminary step to culling a public meeting to discuss the whole question.