TOURIST POLICY CRITICISED.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 October 1924, Page 1

TOURIST POLICY CRITICISED.

“DF.I’ARTMKXT NEEDS BO.MBIXf!” AUCKLAND, Oct. 23. Some fresh criticism of the policy applied to the Tourist Department by the Alinister in charge was offered at a meeting of the Auckland Tourist League. The meeting was unanimous in exempting departmental officials from its strictures. A resolution was finally passed, urging the Minister to adopt a more vigorous policy, and regretting the curtailment of tho department’: activities. The chairman, Mr R. Hayward. quoted figures showing that expenditure in the department had been curtailed in recent, years, while receipts had increased. A special plea, for “poor despised, rejected” To Aloha was entered by Miss Ada Gordon, who said that the town as a resort was .suffering from the operation of a vicious circle.

“The department, with that supremo autocrat at its head.” said Miss Gordon. “will not spend any money. Everything lias become very dilapidated and mu-down and the tourist patronage declines in proportion. Tho Council has no say in the management of the resort. If the department will not do anything it should turn the resort over to the Council. I sometimes feel that tho department needs bomb-

ing.” Several speakers who followed blamed the department’s inertia, not tho odicials. hut the Minister and the Government. Air .1. Alcl.ean (Rotorua) said that if much was to Ik* done to develop

tourist traffic, the first reform was to appoint a Minister who was keenly interested in the department, lie quoted tlio lion AV. Xosworthv as saying to a deputation: “Damn the Tourist Depart incut. I wish Rotorua and all the baths were sold.” That showed how little they could expect from tin* present Alinisler. although Air .McLean believed ho was an excellent Alinister of Agriculture, other things being equal. The Alinister for Railways was one of the most interested in the Tourist Department, and these portfolios should go,.together with Hint of the Publicity Department; that would make tor bolter co-ordination between

the three departments that could do a great deal to help each other. Commenting oil this attack, the “Now Zealand Herald" says: -“It must be admitted that there appears to lie justification for the charge. The Hull \\ . Xosworthv is not greatly interested in tourists or scenic resorts, lit* conceives it to he his sole duty to manage the departmeiil so that Hie loss of its operation may he as II as possible. 11 is view is so short-sighted that he cannot see. outside his own department, or realise that the loss it makes is only a sprat to catch a mackerel. The spending power of the tourist is not counted, the new money he brings to the Dominion, the knowledge ol his resources he lakes away, so the Government Tourist stall' are given a starvation wage, and give a starvation return. What can la* done by enterprise ami publicity is strikingly demonstrated by the great increase of flic* popularity of .Mount Cook under private enterprise.”