Hotels

Quality Of Apia

Mrs. Aggie Grey in Reply

Letter to the Editor I WISH to protest against the ill founded criticism of Western Samoa’s hotels contained in an article on page 55 of your July issue, under the heading: “W. Samoa and the Tourist Business.”

The charges are against two hotels in one case, and against one in another; but certain other criticisms are uttered, apparently, against all Apia establishments.

Taking the charges as they relate to my own hotel, may I make the following comments: Hot water: Hot water can be made available every day of the week, but it happens that almost every guest prefers—in this hot climate—to wash and shower with cold water.

Crockery: Nothing but the best quality crockery is used in my dining room.

Food: If there has been any com plaints about the meals which I serve, they have not been made to me. All that I have heard has been gratitude and commendation from the majority of my guests. In addi tion to a good breakfast, lurich and fiye-course dinner, guests are served with early morning tea, morning and afternoon tea. We do special catering for guests on diets, and we are willing to serve special foods requested by guests. The criticism about tropical fruits is unfair. In my hote.l, ripe bananas by the bunch are available 24 hours of the day. Oranges do not grow in Samoa very well; and pineapples, as well as other local fruits, are seasonal.

Similarly, mangoes, avocas and grapefruit are always available, in season. Fruit salad and ice cream are served regularly.

Laundry: Our charges are; shirt, 1 -; trousers, 1/6; coat, 2/-. We have no complaints about the standard of laundry and pressing.

Let those who would claim that Jo - a day is excessive check on the fantastic prices of food in Apia; and consider the hotel proprietor, try ing to make ends meet with the house full one week, empty the next, and perhaps, half-full the third week, in official quarters there seems to be a passive resistance to anything smacking of a tourist drive for the Territory.

My hotel—and my remarks con cern my own establishment only— is noted for the friendly and homely service offered. Here are comments by visiting newspapermen; “A fine accommodation house right on }J C ,^* te r fro . nt at Apia Aggie’s aim in life is to make anybody’s visit to Samoa more memorable There is S e “‘j. of atmosphere at Aggie’s, although chatting to Aggie is ’atmosphere’ enough , object in life to make you feel at bo.™- — Leo White in ‘White’s Aviation.”

They meant that 14 Americans wanted

to stay with Aggie Grey Aggie was handsome, hilarious, and a good business woman Aggie’s hotel—it was really a rambling boardinghouse—was a magnet so powerful that planes would fly from Bougainville to Pearl (Harbour) via Samoa! , They were served with crisp French-fried potatoes, buttered string beans and fresh tomato salad. The steaks were excellent and the eggs were endless.”

James A. Michener, author of “South Pacific,” in an article in “Esquire.”

“Her hotel is one of the highlights of Apia. Airy, casual, with two toilets and a piano, rooms with portable walls, a superb view of the roadway and the ships, it is the terminal point of what must be one of the loveliest roadways in the world.”—Eleanor Knox in the “New Australasian Post.”

“Red and gold hibiscus, a climbing variety of which smothers Aggie’s front pergola.”—Martin Collins in “Newsview.”

As your journal is designed to serve the islands, you should serve them well by making certain of the facts yourselves, and not, as appar ently was done in this case, taking for granted the complaints of that small minority of ‘-travellers who can never be pleased. .

I am, etc.,

(Mrs.) Aggie Grey.

Apia, 2/9/53.