The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is inoorporated the West Coast Times.) TUESDAY, JANUARY 29th, 1921. NEW ZEALAND’S ATTRACTIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 January 1924, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is inoorporated the West Coast Times.) TUESDAY, JANUARY 29th, 1921. NEW ZEALAND’S ATTRACTIONS.

Am: wo in Now Zealand making the moßt of our assets? is a. question that must arise again and again in the mind of the ordinary person who keeps iairly well abreast of current events and comment. It is quite apparent to anyoic who takes the trouble to follow the thought by making a few enquiries that too many New Zealanders are not as well acquainted with their own country as they should be; in fact, certain parts of New Zealand, though well known to a section, have been practically uuknown country to the mass. Take, says the Haworn ‘•Star”, the West Coast of the South Island as an example. There lias attached to this area of the Dominion a large amount of glamour and romanco resultant from those hectic days of adventure and gold seeking, when the West Coast was the lure that brought so many thousands to New Zealand, but what percentage of the North Island residents really know anything about the West Coast? It is a wonderful country, that has largely been forgotten in its comparative isolation. As the articles which have recently appeared in our columns show, the Otiia Tunnel is proving the means by which the West Coast lias been rediscovered, and what has been known to the comparatively few is now being widely proclaimed by the many, and _so the West Coast is getting a hearing once more. Illustrative of our point is the fact tbal a party of Wellington business men have recently toured the "West Coast—on business and on pleasure liont—and among tho party was Mr N Kims lie, H.M. Trade Commissioner, and this is his opinion: “Tho most striking impression one brings back from the West Coast is of the wonderful scenic beauties. The views of hush, livers, glaciers, and mountains, I think, are more than the equal of anything I have ever seen or heard of in any part of the world; such a marvellous succession of beautiful scenes of such great variety in such a short range. I am quite convinced that if tho real beauties of the Most Coast were more widely known they would attract tourists from all over tlm world.”

We have introduced Mr Elmslie’s remarks, as ho speaks of the need of more widely advertising New Zealand A similar opinion is expressed by a New Zealand lady sojourning in tho United States of America-—Miss Frances Morrison, formerly of Blenheim, the possessor of a fine contralto voice, who lias made good in her profession in the States. Miss Morrison, who is at prebent residing in Chicago, comments fsays an exchange) on the eagerness of the American people to learn something rj New Zealand—its beauty spots and Maoris. To the average person in the States. New Zealand is a terra incognita and amazement is expressed at the short-sightedness of the powers-tbat-be in not making more widely known the advantages of this Dominion as a tourist resort. In Chicago alone there are thousands who, having done the usual Continental tours, are looking for fresh Pelds to visit, and would no doubt visit the Dominion if its attractions were only given tho publicity they

merit. It is to these people that Miss Morrison lias been advertising her count,v. At one of Miss Morrison’s appearances at a fashionable club, after she had snug a Maori song, slfe was asked to give a talk on New Zealand and the- .Alaoris. Describing the glories of Rotorua and the scenic grandeur of her native land and its noble native race bas now become quite a feature ■it Miss Morrison’s recitals, and quite a number of people have expressed their intention of touring the Dominion in the near future. New Zealand gol a great advertisement during the war. We are hopeful that the Empire Exhibition will further enhance the fame of this fair land, but something more is required, and, in our opinion, it is a real live publicity campaign run by experts—men who have had to prove themselves business-getters or fade out of the gamo. It is not necessary hero to set out the attractions New Zealand possesses for tho wealthy, but v hat a field they offer for the publicity agent qualified to handle a world campaign 1 AVo are among those who consider what has so far been done in tlie way of publicity is only playing with the matter compared wTfli what might and should ho done, and we are looking at the matter from the good business point of view alone.