NEW ZEALAND AND AMERICA.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16430, 25 January 1919, Page 9

NEW ZEALAND AND AMERICA.

♦ J ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN URGED. (special to "the press.") DUNEDIN, January 23. Cr. Black, who lias just returned frpm a trip to America, stated in an interview: "The one thing that impresses the traveller from New Zealand is that the Dominion is not on the map of the world as unrolled to American eyes. A very small percentage of business people* know vaguely that there is such a place, but esteem it a_ suburb of Sydney. To the rest it is not known. There seems to have been no «aDtempt at all to advertise New Zeai land or her products. Even on the mail boat by which he travelled—the I first tentacle between the countries— there was not a pamphlet of New Zealand to be found, and although en I route we were getting wireless mes- ! sages from both America and New | Zealand, there was not one word on this New Zealand-bound vessel of j what was going on in the Dominion. "Again, when in San Francisco I ! called upon the New Zealand representative. I found liini housed in poor offices, and practically without any j reading matter or pictures of New I Zealand, save a few little photographs that miirht represent any country in the world, but were not at all distinotive of New Zealand. What is wanted is a thorough advertising campaign, spreading information of our products, and disseminating in ships and hotels the outstanding features of our land, iu fact, a first-class cinema display with a first-class lecturer would be a strong lever for a start. America is keen to get our raw products, and wo would guickly secure an iriflux of tourists and men seeking business did we but let them know what awaits them. Australia has a special Commissioner to advertise the Commonwealth's products, but poor New Zealand is left unrepresented. The same ignorance is found in Tegard to our part in the war. You mav read everywhere of what the Australians nave done, but never see the word New Zeainnder in the print of the papers. The few who know of us envisage us vncuelv as 'the country of perfect laws.' "