The Tourist In New Zealand.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 30 May 1910, Page 3

The Tourist In New Zealand.

('By Alexander f[iiim> Ford, an American Tourist.) _ Great, immense, republican America ma i lit a ins vast national paries. exploited by individulas or specially favoured and lici>n.sc-cl transportation limiiopulh/. which are im-Tfili'ss i:i their chart's to the public. .In compact little .New Zealand and hroad, imperialistic Australia there are also extensive national parks. but these are exploited by the Government for the people, and so '"•eat are the improvements and. so reasonable the <-;>st of reaching those resorts that almost the entire p>pulace, at some time or another,' people tliemi. living tlir.rein as cheaply as n't home. How different from the American way I To the visitor the most remarkable tilling in Xew Zealand is its Government bureau for the care, supir vision and direction of the tourist. Not only is it the most remarkable tiling to the stranger in tikis strange land of reforms, but it is the most welcome. The Government has actually created n. department whose .sole duty it is to look out for the purpose and eoniforit of th'i" man who wise-lies to see the country. He is carried from place to place by the Government, at rates with which no private tourist, agency, relying upon coimniis- .'••;! its, can possibly compete, and is lodged iiib ccs.t by the Government hi hi tvds built by the State for his cumj'oi't and accommodation. '.Moreover. State guides are ever at hi"., heck 'in I call, ' *::i■'l .j;i ;jt uitics ar, practically unknown. New Zealand has become, by Governntenb fiat, not only the workiugman's, but akv the tourist's, paradise. In every largo oitv ot Ausl ralasie there is a inagnifi"enit "Nc*' Zealand Government Tourist Bureau" building where every possible kind of information concerning the New Dominion is placed temptingly lie fore all who will enter. Tours de luxe ir! ' 'i" id' ■ c /"M 1 i':d •'!'•■' are mapp d out and arranged with e'p'iiil impartiality. The touri-l r."iv ' it'.'. .' c .itntry with ;■■ ! v</.r ' '.'; i'.-.'! ir ..'.,;>■ -riviti: i paid c - v •'•■t or seeond ohvs. at a rate •' !" :.'om 2s Id t:; !-' 2 ' a -V. as h '" IV !■'][•'. t t'/ 1 ' It '■ !.'. ! ■ .'. Ml - !'■' datiou provided for first.class at ''• m -Is to ('•'-; a fhiv, and .-e-oiid" .-''.ss at a ■ ' ■ half '••- lii-rli, white ■, '. lows, or, :• ; r ' Id- ■•. really >• <dy are - ■■■'■■>]\v ,';tk< ;r <-.\\-> r/ at. rates gnnMy rediiia'd from 'these, i-r it is p. r.' .!' t'.'iv dutv cf the Tairist B:". rt;:ieiit to l-v.-k ciPher • V, .health of the p...pie, and the N'i'W Zealand G' verivreut spends . d'lli:;: ■ ou it-- h.'d'.'t re" its.- mak- ;:••: them really health re* arts fra.ni ■.■ ~r ■■>]\t, and scien.t.i'r.' stand|v>ir,.t:;. Tho man who enters New !" aland has the entire possibilities •:' tl'" 1 "Tinr voile us country placed hefi.ro I;i:n !>v nun of science and ae- ' 'racy. The cost to ibim of ''travel lis been reduced to a minimum rnd tin* ]) ■•-ihle benefits exalted to a roa.vi'inu.'n. .?.nd it hhis all pxid N r e.w Z 'aland and its Govoreniment .splendid dividends. Our C.-v mi rent civates a mat ionH park and t"!!•"'•; it over to a mon:p:)ly'to eondunt, r.o that those of i^nde" 1 f-i't \<&A out. Tu Xt'nv Z-.'ii!-,n:'-l the national parks j-ally belong to the ir-aple and to t!i:) ' Government. Any one may rrmb n liotefl or open np n i iivto, hut if lie overcharges, 'the G:!.veiT,niV'r,t b-vhw h'im a hv erecting its own lr;tels o.nd c'j-■'■■hli-l-'ir,'' i.ts cwn 'i!)".s \\v--t, wliucn (ire ctondiicltpd m t\-i to make a fair 1-ofit. This rate determined, they are leasee! to private parties, conditio Mil upon a st.arKk.rd service n.t a. standiard rate, hoth set. by the Government. Tt costs n. little over n half-penny a mile to visit from Wellinston, the capital of Now Zewknitl, the Rotorina Distirict, or National Thermal Park,- that in every way rivals our own Yellowstone.