‘Tourist Quid’ For Australians?

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30954, 10 January 1966, Page 1

‘Tourist Quid’ For Australians?

If New Zealand introduced a “tourist quid” which would give an Australian 20s instead of the 15s he received for his pound in New Zealand, many, more Australians would come to New Zealand.

This opinion was expressed in Christchurch yesterday by Mr Eric Baume, a noted Australian radio and television news commentator, on his arrival from Sydney to spend 12 days in New Zealand. "I’m a bit of a fanatic about this, because 1 believe it would play a big part in bringing our countries together,” be said. Mr Baume, a New Zealander who has had a distinguished newspaper and broadcasting career, is in New Zealand as the guest of the Government. “I make no excuses for quoting Hitler on the tourist quid idea,” he said. “His economic adviser, Schacht, convinced him that it would be good business to issue a tourist mark, spendable only in Germany. It produced millions for Germany. “The same could be done in New Zealand, for Australian tourists. The Australian now gets 15s in New Zealand for his quid, and a great many of them stay at home rather than lose on the deal New Zealand can’t lose, because the tourist quid could be spent only in New Zealand. “Unity between our two countries is essential in more ways than one, and I have been asked by your Government to do what I can to help. Mr Baume. born in Auckland, and educated at the Waitaki Boys’ High School, was editor of the “Timaru Herald” at the age of 22. He left for Australia in 1923, and had not been back to the South Island since. Tomorrow he will revisit his old school, and he hopes to meet old friends and acquaintances among journalists.

His main interest today is the Macquarie network of radio stations, the biggest of its kind in Australia and New Zealand, and covering Australia from Perth to Cairns.

“In New South Wales, 24 stations take our news, and the evening news is broadcast in every state. The network is controlled now by the Fairfax group, which has just bought it for several million pounds.”

Mr Baume went on to speak of one of his radio programmes, “This I Believe.” which, he said, he had been conducting since 1936. The session gave views and assessments of current events. “The broadcasts are not deliberately controversial. We just try to give the public's view,” said Mr Baume. “We get protests and are called names, but the stronger they are, the better. In New Zealand, I undersetand. you are not allowed to criticise anyone. Australians love controversy.” Mr Baume, an author of note, was editor of the Svdney “Sunday Sun” from 1929 until 1939, was a war correspondent with the British Army, and from 1945 until 1952 was editor-in-chief of Truth Newspapers, Ltd., Svdney.