HOLIDAY TRAFFIC.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16412, 4 January 1919, Page 4

HOLIDAY TRAFFIC.

MORE TOURISTS THAN EXPECTED. Enquiries made at the Tourist Bureau go to show that there has been a fairly heavy traffic during the holidays (says the "Wellington Correspondent of the Auckland "Herald"). This was hardly expected on account of the disturbance caused by the recent epidemic. The South Island, and in relatively large measure the West Coast, seems to hn.vo been more favoured this year than the most popular resorts of the North Island. Business has, however, heen. spread over a longer period this year by reason of tho abolition of the excursion fares, and there has not, therefore, been so heavy a crush on the railways within tho few days from Christmas Eve to New Year. The railways offer no inducements by low fares, as formerly, to travel for pleasure. Travelling by rail a-nd boat cannot be called cheap in New Zealand compared with many other placcs. and the accommodation at hotels and boarding-houses is not cheap, either. Nevertheless, thero has been, and is likely to be, a lot of travelling done this season, judging by the stream of enquirers calling at the Tourist Bureau. and the extensive character of the itineraries which have" formed the subject of enquiries of the officer in charge.'? The tourists appear to he almost entirely residents of New Zealand, who are seeing their own country, many, perhaps, for the first time outside of thoir home towns. The difficulties associated with communication between Australia and New Zealand are not conducive to any extensive influx of visitors from the Commonwealth this 6©a--son.