DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 February 1925, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT. RAILWAY SERVANTS. MINISTER’S REMINDER. WELLINGTON, February 25. The Minister of Railways says that as a result of statements which appeared in the daily Press to the effect that Mr M. J. Mack was present at the annual meeting of the Alliance of Labour as representing the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, a communication was addressed to the general secretary of the Society asking whether the report was correct.

A reply has been received intimating that the Society’s attitude is correctly explained in its letter of May 16th. last and that the Society could not accept any responsibility for any new.spapei reports which would appear to convey a different impression.

The letter referred to stated that the executive had taken action to cancel its affiliation with the Alliance of Labour, and also undertook it would not again affiliate during its term of office The same executive was in office wher the annual meeting of the Alliance wre held last month.

The .Society was advised, in reply to its letter, that so far as the Government was concerned it would not countenance any departure from the definite terms under which recognition was accorded the Society. In the event of the Society again contravening the agreement by affiliating with any outside organisation, the Government would withdraw its recognition of the Kocietv,

TOURIST TRAFFIC. AUCKLAND February 25

That New Zealand is on the eve of a big, development of the tourist tiaffie is tile opinion of Mr G. M. Spence,, president of the New Plymouth Tourist and Expansion League, who returned to New Zealand by the Aorahgi alter a visit to the Western States ol America. He made it clear that an intensive propaganda abroad was essential, and that hotel accommodation must he improved as it compared poorly with the palatial hotels and even the smaller hostclries m the. United States,

Mr Spence said he had made it his business to investigate the methods employed in America to attract tourists, and found that railway companies, hotels, transport companies. Chambers of ■Commerce, Automobile Associations ami Tourist Leagues wore very much alive to the wisdom of advertising L attractions of different localities. The pi incipal method was by well prepared and handsomely printed illustrated folders and these were ) roniinenlly placed in hotels, railway stations, and other public places. Ho bad been un able to learn that anything wrs being, doin' to advertise New Zealand. In the Western States of America there appeared to he a profound ignoranceof New Zealand and its attractions. It was amusing to hear the wild guesses of many as to the location of the Dominion. Some were of the opinion that it was part </f Australia, while others thought it was merely a South Sea Island like Raratongu or Samoa. However, all showed a genuine interest, in the country, and were anxious for information concerning the place and its people.