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Hokitika Guardian, 14 January 1921, Page 2

Despite what has been done to advertise the scelnie attractions of Westland, the district, is still “off the map” so far as some of the tourist agencies are concerned. As an instance of this we have the ease of the English tourist party just being conducted through the Dominion. So far as their tour on the Coast was concerned the only points of interest they had heard of were the Otira Gorge, and the Buller Gorge and their itinerary was mapped out to traverse these localities only. Some of the visitors finding themselves stranded in Greymouth for a day on Wednesday, and looking for an outlet for their energies, they gleaned some knowledge of Lake Kanieri and they devoted the afternoon to the visit —and very enjoyable it proved. There must be a remissness on the part of the Government Tourist Department that the glories of Westland scenery are not more extolled at Home than they are. The Government appears to have so many eggs in the artificial basket at Rotorua, that' tlio natural wonders of Westland are overlooked so far as the general toirrist traffic is concerned, and steps should be taken to request the Government to amend the remissness. In regard to the Westland resorts, time and again we hear of visitors touching the Coast , without any pre-knowledge of the ! scenic attractions of Westland. There . should be some active body here to pass tlie matter more more under the notice K)f the outside public. Perhaps the , Progress League would devote its at- | tention to the subject. A commencement could he made by establishing a local tourist bureau here. Doubtless it will have to be done by the public as the Government are too indifferent all along to their share of the responsibility. The Overseas Club room provides a building which could be used most satsfactorily in conjunction with the work in mind, and fotr very little cost no doubt arrangejn'onts could be made to make the rooms a centre where visitors could get all the information they require as to means of reaching the beauty spots of the district. At the same time it is necessary to lombard the tourist agencies throughout the Dominion, Government and otherwise, and let them know of the special field Westland presents as holiday resort for visiting tourists. The matter in tlie interests of all concerned should to taken up actively.

The volume of tourist and general traffic to the Coast this year by way of the overland route is abnormal. The congestion and inconvenience imposed on travellers calls for some remedial attention. If the traffic continues to increase at the present rate of progress there will be a complete deadlock at no distant date. The difficulty arises through the limit of carrying capacity of the coaches. It is not possible to readily enlarge the plant, for the reason that in a comparatively short time the need for the Otira Gorge trip will disappear, and the railway through the tunnel will cope with the traffic. Up to the time the railway is able to c:o this, something should be attempted meantime to overcome the difficulties in transporting the large numbers travelling. The suggestion has been rut. forward that the Public Works Department by using the electric motor -n----gines should improvise a passenger ami mail service through the tunnel. This we are assured does not present any insuperable difficulties. It will lie a great relief to the travelling public, if arrangements can be made to cope with the excess traffic in the way suggested, and we are assured that the arrangement will lye imperatively necessary for next season. Unless some steps of this nature are taken tho traffic to and from the Coast will bo considerably restricted, and there will be loss all round. Th!e popularity of the route and the growing volume of traffic indicates what a. great effect the opening of the Otira tunnel will have on the Coast generally. It will l>e the main portal for all classes of traffic and will be the means of forging the district ahead by leaps and bounds. The Railway Department will have its work cut out to deal with tlie great volume t f goods traffic which will eventuate. Natural products from here will go east, and produce will come west. The commodities will all be in great bulk, and will keep the tunnel in constant use. Looking to tho future and the effect which quick and ready means of transit will provide, the tunnel cannot he opened for general traffic too soon. Meantime tho needs for dealing with passenger transport should engage attention, and the suggestion thrown out regarding the Public Works Department action should have prompt consideration and attention.