THE TOURIST TRAFFIC.

Evening Star, Issue 22143, 25 September 1935, Page 8

THE TOURIST TRAFFIC.

In- the annual report of the Department of Tourist and Health Resorts and Publicity evidence will _be found of an increase in the tourist traffic during the past year. The improvement represents a recovery from the low figures of the depression years. Therefore, as the conditions in the Dominion and other Empire countries continue to get bette.r an expansion in the volume of tourist traffic may be expected. It will have been noticed that the Federal Budget shows a decided measure of financial recovery in the Commonwealth. A substantial surplus was revealed on the past year’s operations, and after allowing for contemplated remissions of taxation and other forms of relief the Treasurer estimated a balance on the right side in the current year. Tasmania, because of its proximity to the mainland and cooler climate, has always been a favourite holiday ground _ for Australians, but that small island has nothing like the variety of attractions to bo found in New Zealand. The Australians are fond of travel. Those who can afford to do so like to get away from their country during the heat of the summer, and the Dominion is not too far to allow of a visit during a comparatively short holiday. Already the indications are promising. It is satisfactory to know that the Marama will soon be making crossings from Melbourne, calling at Milford Sound, and affording easy opportunities for tourists to visit tho picturesque wonderland of the south, embracing as it does the lakes system. Already the courteous officials at the Dunedin office are making arrangements for the opening of the Milford Track, and providing facilities generally.

During last year the revenue of the department was £75,634 and the expenditure, including the money allotted to the overseas publicity branch, was £103,028. This cannot be described as other than a satisfactory result, for the deficiency will be recouped many times over by the money left the country by tourists during their visits. It is satisfactory to note in reading the report that the department has adopted a progressive policy, in which publicity figures largely. The recognised advertising methods have been adopted, and all classes of material have been produced and distributed, often in conjunction and co-operation with other interests and with a continuous consideration of the best possible means and the most likely areas from which results can be expected. Particular attention is being paid to Australia, and a substantial proportion of the publicity expenditure is being concentrated upon that territory. To put the matter baldly, New Zealand has something to sell in its tourist facilities that will yield substantial and increasing profit year by year, and the department is taking pains to build up its sales and booking organisation, and, so far as financial circumstances permit, to carry out a vigorous publicity campaign abroad. The Dominion is not only particularly fortunate in the variety and extent of its scenic assets, which are not excel.ed in any part of the world, but also in the opportunities afforded, from one end of the country to the other, to the largo number of visitors with sporting proclivities who use the rod and the gun. The Minister in charge of the department is Mr Adam Hamilton. Realising the geographical handicaps of the South, he will no doubt make it the business of the officials to see that its manifold attractions are adequately placed before visitors from overseas. That is a point, it lias been often complained, to which attention was not always directed in the past. It is satisfactory to note, according to the

report, that the department is carrying on in close co-operation with most of the various traffic inteiests, In paiticular it works in harmony with the shipping companies, which provide abundant facilities for publicity. The work of the Tourist Department now differs from that of other days. Instead of merely providing facilities for visitors to New Zealand, it endeavours, by means of advertising and in other ways, to induce them to come to these shores.

Business houses throughout the Dominion are making excellent use of the facilities provided by the appointment of Mr 11. H. Nesbitt as Trade Commissioner for Australia in New Zealand. Mr Nesbitt said at Christchurch yesterday that since he had been appointed to the position he had received about I 000 inquiries from various commercial houses in New Zealand, all of them being interested in the development of trade with Australia. He felt that the plan for the improvement of trade relations between the two countries was working out as had been intended.

To enable the public to receive their mail matter as early as possible the Postal Department is making an effort to speed up the delivery of correspondence to private houses, and in this respect the householders are being asked to cc-operato by placing a box at the gate. If boxes arc provided the postmen will be saved the necessity of having to walk from the gate to the front door and back at every house. There have been times when a morning delivery has been so heavy that the letter carrier has not had time to return to the Post Office to pick up the afternoon mail; but the provision of letter boxes at the gates will ensure two deliveries daily in future. The objection is sometimes raised that a box might bo interfered with by outsiders, but it is reassuring to know that although thousands of town and country boxes have been in use in' New Zealand for a number of years there are only isolated cases where the mails have been touched by unauthorised persons.

The postal authorities advise that the Niagara, due at Auckland on Monday from Vancouver, lias 130 bags of English and American mail for Dunedin. The mail is due at the local office next Wednesday afternoon. The Wanganui police advise that Phyllis Margaret Davey, missing from ilaetihi since August 17, returned to her home before midnight last night.— Press Association.

“ With the horizon brightening so steadily, I hoped that the Government would have shown equal courage by making a real reduction in general taxation this year,” said the president of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce (Mr F. W. Hobbs), when speaking at the annual dinner of the chamber last evening about the courageous manner in which the present Government had dealt with recent crises in the Dominion. Nothing would have given a greater impetus to trade than reduced taxation, he said. The sales tax might be easy of collection by the Treasury, but it was an annoyance to the traders and a burden to both seller and buyer. The high rate of income tax also often prevented the payment of a dividend or the extension of business premises, which gave added employment to builders and the increase in permanent staff.

In the divorce case of Anna Margaret Aukl (petitioner) v. John Henry Auld (respondent) His Honour Mr Justice Kennedy this morning granted an application for the decree to be made absolute. Custody of the three children of the marriage was granted to the petitioner, and an order was made for the x'espondent to have access to them at all reasonable times. Mr A. G. Neill appeared for the petitioner, and Mr C. J. L. White for the respondent..

The monthly meeting of the Musselburgh School committee was held last evening, following being present Messrs D. Highet (chairman), H. Johnston (clerk), R. Brent (treasurer), and Anderson, Maslin, Rout, Caddie, and Glue. The head master, Mr Abel, was also present, and Ins report showed everything in the school to be progressing satisfactorily. The number on the roll was 567 and the average attendance for the month was 531. Mr Abel congratulated Mr Hill on his good work with the football teams, and likewise Miss Hughes for her work with the basketball teams. Various alterations made in the school wore proving satisfactory, and the central heating service installed in the main building was excellent. Mr M’Millan, a returned soldier, had been appointed janitor of the school, and had been on duty during the month. The visiting committee, Messrs Caddie and Rout, reported on matters pertaining to the school. It was decided to make the necessary arrangements for a further central heating service. Applications for courts from the' Methodist and Presbyterian Tennis Clubs were received and certain requests made are under consideration. The accounts amounting to £39 8s 4d were passed for payment.

A civic reception to the Otago Rugby team that won the Ranfurly Shield will be held in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall at 5.15 to-morrow evening, this hour having been fixed in order to permit ns many people as possible to be present. At first it was contemplated holding the reception in the Council Chambers as usual, but as indications were quickly forthcoming that a large number of sporting bodies would bo represented, it was decided to switch over td the Concert Chamber and give the general public a chance to attend in comfort. The mayor (the Rev. E. T. Cox), who will preside, expresses the hope that the attendance will be worthy of the occasion.

The provision of a system of unemployment insurance was advocated by Mr F. W. Hobbs, the president of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, when speaking at the annual dinner of the chamber last evening. Mr Hobbs suggested that in the present form of unemployment taxation there was the foundation for an excellent system of insurance. The revenue was assured and was not difficult to collect. The schedule of benefits to b© paid ought not to be difficult to work out. It was also worth considering whether the legislation should not be a aended and widened to cover humanitarian relief, such as old age and other pensions, in which case a corresponding reduction in other taxation could be made.

When a Boeing biplane left the Waikato airport this morning it carried among the passengers Mr and Mrs John Griffiths, of Cromwell (Otago), both septuagenarians, who are enjoying their first long distance flight. The machine will reach Wellington to-day, and will leave for Dunedin via the West Coast later in the week. Interviewed prior to their departure, Mr Griffiths said he had no qualms about the trip, Roth he and Mrs Griffiths had been up in smaller planes previously. and had cnioyed their experience! immensely.—Hamilton Press Association.

The community sing organised last night in the Town Hall was most successful in every way. The entertainment took the form of an “ Irish night,” and the various songs and items had a strong flavour of the Mine raid Isle., Mr Arthur M'Donald was the leader, and his efforts resulted in nearly £IOO being obtained.

Bo Wise, See to Your Byes. W. V. Stunner, Optician, 2 Octagon. Dunedin. Cousulling Opticians: W. V. Stunner, F. 1.0., N.Ji.; A. It. Watson, F. 1.0., 5.D.0., JS T ./>. —[Advl.]