E. NORDON.]

15

I.—9a.

this legislation would entail. I submit that that is a very important point, which should induce the Committee to hesitate before recommending that this Bill should bo placed on the statute-book. I should like to say one word with regard, to the case quoted by Mr. Palmer. He stated that, having given his employees a whole holiday per week, he had to do the work himself. As an old Aucklander I happen to know the hotels of Auckland almost as well as I know the hotels of Canterbury, and I am sure that I am correct in stating that the hotel which Mr. Palmer used to run in x~nd was not and is not a residential hotel. Ido not think they have a boarder a month in the Edinburgh Castle, consequently it cannot be compared with a hotel doing a residential trade. And the Edinburgh Castle stands by itself in that respect, because a large majority of the houses—l know it is so in Christchurch, at any rate —do a fairly large residential trade. Speaking from some ten years' experience as secretary of our association, I humbly submit that I know a little about the working of hotels. I am satisfied, apart from the increased cost of running the hotels, that this proposal would disorganize the whole internal economy of a hotel. There is just a chance that such a proposal might eventually fall upon the travelling public, because if these demands are to be constantly made it seems to me that hotel tariffs cannot remain stationary. As one who has travelled the world over and stayed at hotels in all parts, I am quite sure that at the present time the hotel tariffs in New Zealand are lower than they are in any other part of the world. It does seem to me that in considering this question that aspect might be taken into consideration —that if these demands are to be constantly made there is a possibility that the tariff may have to be raised, and that undoubtedly must fall upon the man who travels, and in that case a large number will suffer. However, lam not here to plead the cause of the travelling public. I would urgently request the Committee to stay their hand, in this matter in order to give the licensees, not only of Christchurch but of the whole Dominion, some chance of digesting the clauses in this proposed amendment to the Act. 2. Mr. Bavey.] Do you think that many of the Christchurch hotelkeepers would come and give evidence if they had an opportunity ? —I am sure they would. 3. Assuming that this Bill is placed upon the statute-book, and as an alternative the hotelkeeper is given an opportunity of granting his servants a holiday in a lump, either once a quarter or every half-year, would that he more suitable than giving them one whole day a week ?—That is a question you have sprung upon me. I should not like to answer it without consideration. That proposal is in the Bill now, is it not ? Mr. Hindmarsh : Only up to three months. 4. Supposing that principle were extended to the half-year, would that be more suitable to the hotelkeeper ? —1 should not like to answer that question. lam quite unprepared for it. 5. Mr. Clark.] Do you think it would disorganize the trade of the hotels in Christchurch if the employees got a whole day a fortnight off, instead of a half-day each week, as they are getting now ? —1 suppose there would be less disorganization, but undoubtedly that would lead to disorganization. Arranging the half-holiday at present leads to considerable trouble. So far as hotelkeepers generally are concerned in my district —and I believe I speak for the hotelkeepers of the whole Dominion —there is no desire whatever to overwork the hotel servants if it can possibly be avoided. It is the peculiar nature of the business that makes it almost impossible to extend the same privileges to that business that are given in others, because the travelling public have a desire to eat even on Sundays and holidays, and if you do not give them the same attention on those days as on other days they are not, only dissatisfied but they talk about reporting you to the Licensing Committee, and so forth. 6. Mr. Hindmarsh.] There is only one Carnival week on in New Zealand just now, is there not ? —Yes, there is a Carnival week in Christchurch. 7. The publicans in the other parts of the Dominion are at liberty, but they do not seem to rush down here to give evidence ? —I can only speak for my own district. 8. Mr. Okey.] Have you any complaint from your employees as to their treatment at the present time ? —None at all. lam quite satisfied in my own mind that a large number of the hotel employees of Christchurch do not know that this Bill is before Parliament. 9. You do not consider that they are asking for it ?—No ;I am quite sure they are not. Of course, the hotel employees of Christchurch are open to take it if they can get it, for which I do not blame them a bit. 10. They do not expect a reduction in wages "to meet this, do they ? —I am afraid I should not like to be the one to propose a reduction. 11. A man writing to me from New Plymouth says that his chef has three afternoons off per week ; the second and third men have each two afternoons ; the maids have the statutory half-holiday every week, and in addition they are always at liberty to go out for an hour or two in the morning, with the exception of one maid per day. Do you treat your employees something after that fashion ?—I think 1 can say that, with, the exception of the very big hotels in Christchurch, when business is slack a few hours off is often given to an employee when he or she is not entitled to it by law. I would not say that with regard to the big hotels, because discipline demands that a man in a certain position should always be at hand if he is wanted ; but in the majority of hotels it is so. 12. There is a certain amount of give-and-take ?—Exactly. I might say, with regard to my own district, that if we as an association find that any licensee is breaking the law in regard to hours we are the first to jump on him and see that he obeys the award and the Act. 13. Has not the Arbitration Court got the power now to give them what they are asking for, if evidence is brought forward ?—Yes, it has the power, but I am not at all sure whether the Judge would give it. in face of the Act that is on the statute-book now. 14. This is an attempt to override the Arbitration Act by coming to Parliament ?—That is what I think it is. 15. What effect do you think it would have on the hotels if they had to increase the tariff ? Have you had to increase the tariff through the rise in the cost of meat and other eatables ?—We have not increased the tariff of late years. Taking the whole of the dining-rooms of Christchurch—and I have seen the books of many of the hotel-proprietors —there is not a single dining-room in that city con-