MANY TOURISTS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 155, 27 March 1939, Page 10

MANY TOURISTS

Dominion Monarch Service GREAT POSSIBILITIES Quick Transit From South Africa (By our special representative ou board the Dominion Monarch). So named because she is linking by a uew route the overseas Dominions of South Africa, Australia and New Zealan'd with Great Britain, the Dominion Monarch, on her record-breaking maiden passage, has successfully tested the great potentialties ot tourist traffic between South Africa and New Zealand. In addition to a number from England, the ship lias brought to the Dominion about 290 passengers from South Africa, as well, as some from Australia who are making the round voyage. A few of the South Africans have visited New Zealand previously, and are looking forward to renewing their pleasant memories of the scenery and oilier tourist attractions of the country. Their descriptions-of the varied beauties of the Dominion have whetted the interest of their fellow travellers, many of whom say they have always wanted to see New Zealand, but the time and trouble of getting here hitherto have kept them away. Now that the Dominion Monarch has inaugurated a speedy and comfortable direct service, South Africa is brought within 19 days of New Zealand and the way is easy. A Fast, Direct Service.

South Africans have not been slow to take advantage of the facilities provided by the Dominion Monarch. Her mai'deu voyage schedule lias been planned on a conservative basis for speed to enable the engines to be run in. Mr. John Macmillan, managing director of the Shaw Savill Lines, who is making the round voyage in the ship, says that on her second voyage the Dominion Monarch is due to get into her stride, and points out that it then will be possible for South Africans to reach New Zealand 19 days after leaving Durban, spend four weeks in the Dominion and be back in South Africa in nine weeks .and three days after they started. Conversely New Zealan'ders will be able to travel lo Durban via Australia in 19 days, spend six weeks touring South Africa, rejoin the Dominion Monarch at Durban, and 'be back in New Zealand 12 weeks after starting their voyA lai'ge personally conducted party of tourists came in the Dominion Monarch. Assembled in England and South Africa by Thos. Cook and Suu, Ltd., they are to make a complete tour of both islands in private motor-ears accompanied by a responsible officer of the company.

’The names of the party are as follows: —From England: Mr. F. Buckle, Manchester; Mr. and Mrs. E. Gardner, Liverpool; Mr. N, S. Hall, Manchester; Mr. and Mrs. A. Lambert and Mrs. 13. Rothwell, Bournemouth. From South Africa; Miss Blackhurst, Durban; Mr. G. M. Breingan, Durban; Mr. H. IV. Dalton. Cape Town; Mr. and Mrs. N. Y. Griffin, Durban; Mrs. Knight, Cape Town; Mr. and Mrs. Mace, Cape Town; Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Shimwell, Johannesburg; Mr. and Mrs. L. Stiller, Durban. Many Tours Arranged.

'That South Africans are keen to make Hie most of their visit to New Zealand is evidenced by the experience of Mr. J. A. Malcolm, manager of the New Zealand Government Tourist and Trade Office in Melbourne. He boarded the Dominion Monarch at that port and was so deluged with inquiries that he had lo travel in the ship to Sydney and ultimately to Wellington to cope with Hie business offering. With brief intervals for meals ami a few hours of sleep he worked hard for 19 hours a day, answering inquiries, arranging tours of both islands and dispatching radio ami cable messages to 'Wellington. In his strenuous work Mr. Malcolm received the full co-operation and assistance of the purser of Hie Dominion Monarch. Mr. E. Cordery, and bis staff, as well as of all other officers concerned. The tours of the Dominion Monarch’s passengers will cover a very wide range

and most of the points of interest throughout New Zealand. The South Island lias received its full share of the business offering, tours to Hie Southern Lakes. Mt. Cook and Hie Franz Josef Glacier being greatly favoured. One party of six persons who arranged a motor tour of Hie South Island at a cost of £,">oo asked for the two best live-seater ears and (be “most knowledgalile" drivers procurable Some thousan'ds of pounds will be spent in New Zealand by the Dominion Monarch's passengers. South African tourists are free spenders and want the best that can be got in service and accommodation. The experience l gained from the outward passage of Hie Dominion Monarch indicates that it would lie good business for New Zealand to establish its own tourist offices in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban in charge of officers who know the Dominion well, so Hint intending travellers could arrange their itineraries in advance and know' exactly what they could expect.