Concerns over TAB’s treatment of customers

I REFER you to recent correspondence regarding the TAB and withdrawal of services from Heff’s Hotel, Southland clubs and many other hospitality businesses. The response from the TAB (ODT, 31.10.18) can only be described as arrogant.

This ‘‘let them eat cake’’ attitude has been going on for years. I have been involved in hospitality for the past 36 years and can think of no other organisation that treats its customers so badly. They want everyone betting on their electronic devices, which they think we all have.

My favourite watering hole is the Kaikorai Valley Lodge, which had excellent betting facilities, with a staff operated terminal and a selfserve machine. The TAB recently advised management that all TAB facilities were to be terminated. A last ditch call to TAB chief executive John Allen has seen a reprieve and at least the selfserve was allowed to stay.

The New Zealand Racing Board have just announced an operating profit of $154.9 million.

Just think how much more this could have been if the TAB had a policy of increasing betting facilities instead of reducing them.

The governmentinitiated Messara report recently released recommends several racing club closures (which is a nonsense), but one positive recommendation was the takeover of the New Zealand TAB by an Australian agency.

Surely, the Aussies would provide better customer service. Alternatively, let the pubs have their own bookies, like we used to have in the 1960s. Francis Murphy

Fairfield

OBHS thanks

THE staff and students of Otago Boys’ High school would like to express our appreciation to the motorists who stopped their vehicles in Arthur St on Friday, November 2, to allow us to complete our farewell ceremony to our Year 13 leavers. This ceremony is an important tradition of our school and means much to us as a school community.

We thank you sincerely for the consideration and the respect you gave us. Richard Hall

rector