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Hokitika Guardian, 6 August 1923, Page 2

Thkrk is the interesting admission in the annual report of the Tourist Department that the principal booking business done liv the several tourist offices in the metropolitan centres is in relation to the traffic to Bailor Gorge, Otira and Waiho Glacier. This moans that for the past year, the volume of tourist Gallic has been moving westward, ignoring ttie expensively Government-conducted show places at Rotorua, Hamner, the Hermitage and the Cold Lakes. The Hermitage has

been leaned for private management, to relieve the Department of a heavy burden. While the Coast is thus attracting the Gallic and affording the Department its chief means of income, it would be of interest to learn the relative cost- to the country of running the Government show places in respect to which the expenditure is certainly abnormal compared with the pittance of expenditure doled out to 1.10 show places on the West Coast. The Department is not giving the Coast attractions a fair deal. Even in the matter of advertising, while it booms Rotorua etc., with show posters and displayed advertisements in numerous papers and magazines, there is blank refusal to similar treatment for the Coast. Tho Coast is making headway solely because of private enterprise in pushing its prominent features under the notice of the outside public.

Tim Coast, however, wid get its great opportunity in advertising during Exhibition time. Up to the present bodies like the Westland AcclimatisaSociety, the Progress League and the Chamber 1 f Coinmeiee, have done splendid spade work in advertising. The first named Society landed itsell heavily in debt to effectively advertise Westland, but the bread cast- upon the waters, is returning at last. The White Star motor services, likewise, are giving the Coast scenic attractions wide publicity. These sources ale really responsible for the prominence given to such notable fen Lures as the Buffer Gorge. Otira Gorge, and Waiho Glacier. Westland lias other* wares no less attractive to keep before the mind of the travelling public, and these matters should he kept prominently under tho notice of holiday-makers. Now that the Department makes such an important admission as to the undoubted superiority of the Coast attractions the time should be very op-

portuno, in connect ion with the ail vertising of tlie Exhibition, to pros for Government action in regard to spe eia! posters and advertisements t

(over the scenic, features of the Co». at of interest and importance to

within and without the Dominion, to turn attention to the special delights of the Coast for a holiday in real, natural, and wonderfully beautiful surroundings.

As evidence of the growing importance of the Waiho district it would have been observed that at the last sitting of the Warden’s Court on the application of the Commissioner of Crown [.antis, application was made for permanent exemption from the .Mining Act of 23 acres at Waiho, to he used ns a township site. The Warden granted the application subject to an occupier under a residential site. The step taken i» n wise one, the only regret being that a larger area was not being set apart. From the area available no doubt the host division of the land will he made. The Waiho district has such unique attractions that it will always bo growing in importance as its fame spreads. The more and better the accommodation provided, the greater will l.e the llow of visitors. \\ or Id travellers describe the Waiho Glacier and its surroundings ns incomparable. Within two years’ time we may hope that the Waiho liver will he bridged, an event, which will give the south district a great fillip. The Commissioner of Crown hands is no doubt anticipating the event just referred to, fur tho time is not far removed when the Waiho twouship will take defined proportions, and the recent determination in regard to n. suitable site will hasten that progressive time.