BE SOCIABLE

Evening Star, Issue 19792, 16 February 1928, Page 10

BE SOCIABLE

AMERICAN ADVICE ON TOURIST RECEPTION (Special to thb ‘Stab.’] CHRISTCHURCH, February 15. “Some ridiculous charges are made by unthinking tourists against New Zealand hotels, but I think that, from the point of view of cleanliness and good food, they rank with any in the world. The only criticism I have to make against the smaller country hotels is that they need to extend thenwashing and sanitary arrangements. Then, each room in the larger hotels in the cities should have its own supply of running water and better washing accommodation. 1 get my full share of athletics from struggling with the basins and pitchers at present in use in most New Zealand hotels.” That is the view of Mr J. L. Wheeler, who is touring manager of an American organisation which is a sort of New Zealand travel ambassador in America., The company specialises in sending touring parties of Americans to New Zealand, and New Zealand only. At present Mr Wheeler is conducting a party of thirty people through the dominion, taking a month in doing so, and this makes the seventh band of tourists, that he has led. “There is one weakness m our tours, and that lies in the fact,” he told a ‘Sun' reporter, “that onr people do not meet enough New Zealanders and talk to them. The chambers of commerce in the dominion should appoint a representative to deal with parties of overseas visitors and make them feel at home. In America tho chambers of commerce lay themselves out to welcome visitors to their towns and cities, and the hospitality makes a difference to the opinion that a traveller has of a town or city. If the New Zealand bodies were a little more sociable to visitors there would bo benefit to all, for business is often clone in that way. The more progressive a community is the more that sort Dispirit is in evidence. Wanganui is very hospitable to travellers, and is outstanding from the point of view of hospitality. 1 think that Auckland is more inclined to the sociable spirit than anv of the other big cities.”