GOING ABROAD

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 67, 6 April 1937, Page 5

GOING ABROAD

Telegraph— Press Aesociation.)

N.Z. Passport Officers Kept Busy 1734 ISSUED RECENTLY

(By

WELLINGTON, This Day. The Coronation of King George VI in May, and the conditions now prevailing enabling New Zealanders to travel abroad, were factors to which the Minister of Internal Aairs, Hon. W. E. Parry, yesterday attributed the greatly increased issue of passports last year and for the first few months of this year. Tlie Minister said that from January to March 31 last the number of passports issued was 1734. It could be held that many of the recipients were going to England for the period of the Coronation. ceremonies. Eigures, forming an interesting comparison between the number of passports issued for the year ended March 31, 1936, and for the year ended March 31, 1937, were given by the Minister. For the 1936 period the passports is-

sued totalled 3640; for 1937, 4457. Passports renewed for 1936 numbered 731; for 1937, the number was 686. f'An increase, aboye the average, in the number of passports isgued," remarked Mr Parry, "signifies good times and some big event happening abroad which New Zealanders are keen to see. It is gratifying to find that so many of our people are now able "to travel overseas. The educational value, no donbt, could not be estimated. Let us all hope that very many of our citizens who are now abroad or who are about to leave for Engiand and elsewhere, have also travelled round their own country to see its progj-ess, its wonders, and its beauties, which so much charm overseas visitors to our shores. All who eee New Zealand first are the better able to champion overseas their country and all it has to offer."