HIGHLY RESPECTED IN UNITED STATES

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 100, 22 January 1935, Page 8

HIGHLY RESPECTED IN UNITED STATES

Dominion of New Zealand INTEREST IN PROGRESSIVE LEGISLATION Dominion Special Service. Auckland, January 21. “New Zealand i§ very highly respected iu the United States,” said Mr. R. Back, representative in San Francisco for the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand, Ltd., who arrived by tb° Aorangi on a combined holiday and business visit to the Dominion He is accompanied by Mrs, Back. “The more intellectual type of American people,” said Mr. Baek, "regard this country as a very interesting stud?. For many years they have* been watching the legislation in New Zealand, regarding it as a country where some of the most helpful social reforms are being put on trial. I am frequently being asked for access to the New Zealand Year Book. Much of the legisi.i tion that has been in force here for 20 or 30 years is beginning to find its way in perhaps a modified form into the statutes of the United States. An example of this is workers’ compensation, which was only recently introduced into the States.” Three main factors are hindering the progress of tourist trade between the United States and New Zealand, stated Mr. Back. First and foremost was the effect of the depression; then came the development of the spirit of nationalism with its theme of keeping money at home by seeing America first; finally. if people did wish to travel outside their own country, they were being persuaded to travel by American ships, thus ensuring that their money return ed to their own people “The general trend of tourist traffic has changed in recent years,” said Mr. Back. “The popular holiday is now one spent only a few days’ journey away from home, where a man can keep in close touch by telephone' and watch the stock market, being able to return home hurriedly if necessary. Europe and the United Kingdom tend to retain their popularity, there being the irresistible attraction of seeing either tfft old home or that of their ancestors. The short sea cruise is still popular, lint support for world cruises is declining. Trips to Honolulu are also well patronised, there being no passport or monetary difficulties, coupled with shorter distance. “New Zealand is well advertised in America. The Government is sending very good literature produced in the most attractive form. There is enormous competition for tourist trade generally, thousands of agents earning their living by selling trips by every conceivable means of transportation, from motor bus to aeroplane. New Zealand business is done through over 600 tourist agents situated throughout the country. Two travelling passenger agents are constantly moving, keeping in touch and supplying the latest information. In this way the agents are kept well informed, and are able to place the attractions of the Dominion before their own clientele.”