H —24

1948 NEW ZEALAND

INVERCARGILL LICENSING TRUST FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1948

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly 'pursuant to the Invercargill Licensing Trust Act, 19M, Section 28

On completion of our first four-year term, the members of the Trust can report progress with increased turnover. The renovations and improvements to our leading hotel, the Grand, are nearing completion, seven de-luxe rooms having been added, leaving only eight more de-luxe rooms to finish the job and make the Grand Hotel one of the leading hotels in the Dominion as regards its furnishings, amenities, &c. Unfortunately, owing to our extremely low tariffs, we are dependent on the sale of liquor to make our accommodation hotels pay. The Price Tribunal have intimated that they will consider our case, and we have every hope that a general increase will be given. Two bottlestores have been opened, one in North Invercargill, and the other in Bast Invercargill, areas not at present served by hotel bars, and they have justified their opening. Large numbers of the public who were in the habit of purchasing their supplies from outside sources are now obtaining them from the Trust. There is still a lack of good accommodation for the travelling public, and hopes are entertained that permits for the alterations and improvements to the Avenal Hotel, and possibly our first-class tourist hotel in Gala Street, may be granted.