The Guardian And Evening Star, with, which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 1927. TOURIST TRAFFIC.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 March 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with, which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 1927. TOURIST TRAFFIC.

Thkhk are frequent references of late to the inadequacy of the steps to attract (or otherwise advertise abroad;, oversea folk on holiday he lit to the Dominion It is often the custom to quote continental resorts as to the so. cess to be derived from developing tourist traffic, but in such localities there are millions of people within easy range and the cost of travel is not l>eyond the reach of so many. Here, where New Zealand is so remote, and the distance calls for time and money to make the trip, there is a limit to the possible patronage. Hut of those available more folk should he attracted to our shores. Australia is very near but the How of visitors from that quarter is not great. America is proving a profitable field whence to seek for visitors, and many with expensive tastes are making grand tours from that continent. The number from other more distant parts is more limited, and it becomes a question what can he done in a reasonable way to attract them here. All the time there remains our own people who travel a good deal, but inanv of whom know very little of their own country. As some evidence of this we have the rush for the picnic trains from Christchurch to the Const, when cheap fares are offered. The trains filled with remarkable rapidity, and the hulk of the folk from what can he gathered are leaking their first trip to Hokitika. So far as New Zealanders are concerned, the experience with these cheap fares suggests at once a way to make our country better known to our own people. We must also remember the msh to Dunedin when, the -

exhibition was open there, and again excursion fares prevailed. There is an inkling in that cxpcrieui e a- to w hat can be achieved, and in that respect

the Railway Department is certainly attempting a good deal no and down the county in induce more of our own people to travel under a cheaper range of fans. While that is so far so good, there is still (he i|tiestion of overseas traffic lo he considered. An organisation is [imposed emanating from Auckland lo develop tonri-l traffic to New Zealand. This mailer was mentioned at (he Progress League here tin’s week. The opinion, was expressed very rightIv that this subject should be bundled by the Government through tho Tourist Department already established for that puree,... fn t lit* Government Department there is an organisation whirh has ramifications in different countries, and there are the facilities to readily extend those connections. There are special officers in Sydney and Melbourne, and the publicity work going mi at Home. Through the Union Company's offices in San Kraneisco and Vancouver, there tire special facilities to iaii important cent res of population, as will as those spread through the two vast countries adiaeent to the maritime centres mentioned. This view .show- there are great possibilities through the Government agencies. It

becomes a matter therefore of utilisin' the forces available bv a system of coordination under which the Government Department, w ill require to he rejuvenated. In this connection it is very pleasing to note that, the Ass-' eiated Chambers of Commerce of X Zealand have approached the Minister of Publicity with ''egard to calling n cuutcrenee to consider the proposal for the establishment of a Tourist and Publicity Board, The conference has been fixed for May -Jtli. at Wellington. Tt appears to lx- an excellent step for such a Board could and should set .about stirring up both the Publicity and Tourist Departments to advertise and develop our tourist res r‘‘ Wostalnd. in particular, is immensely interested in such a movement and should participate in the conference to the end that the claims of a .district so essentially a tourist’s paradise, v.d l not longer he overlooked and neglect e ’