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Hokitika Guardian, 2 April 1928, Page 2

There are some 163 officers in the Department of Tourist and Health lfesoi ts. and the net cost in salaries exceed £3(5,000. When the General Manager of the Department was here last week several gentlemen who have been moved to take an interest in tourist traffic developments hereabouts waited on Mr B. M. Wilson, and began to urge several matters wherein assistance would be valuable in encouraging more traffic and a longer stay in the district by visitors. The deputation was met with the immediate reply that road works were outside the Departmen’s jurisdiction, and that whatever was required in that direction must needs be passed on to the Department of Public Works. In the same way when referring to publicity matters, the reply was to the effect that matters in that category were for the Department of Publicity. One began to wonder what was the purpose and olsjeet of the Tourist Department, and for what reason matters pertaining essentially to tourist work and expansion. should lie severed from the Tourist Department. It appeared there was no co-ordination in policy relating to works affecting tourist traffic, for one sneaker mentioned that when the Public Works Department bad been approached about a road vote, the official reply was that the expenditure was for the benefit of tourist traffic, and there was no urgency about the matter! Thu overlapping must be a serious matter for the taxpayer. The £3(5.000 spent ill salaries for a Department with restricted duties must be a small part of the total cost. It enjoys a .Ministerial bead and lias offices in various centres so that it is not surprising to learn the total net cost of the Department to the country for the financial year which closed on Saturday, was according to tile figures given to Parliament last session, estimated at £77.010. That expenditure would he all right if the Department were attending to tourist business and could lie appealed to with confidence that justifiable requirements would be dealt with. Figures have lieen published from time to time to show bow markedly Westland is ignored in regard to tourist expenditure, while other centres are spoon-fed to excess. A remedy must lie sought, and a way found to see some measure of justice done the district in.this very important matter. Westland has national scenic attractions of the highest order, and should not fie longer neglected. It is high time an appeal were made to the Government and Ministerial intervention sought. Tt is often said the official beads of departments exercise a particular influence in their respective spheres. But appeals to departmental beads have failed, and there is warrant ry now for going over their beads, and pressing for the definite treatment, so long denied and. with-held despite the urgent appeals made on the matter. The material interests of the district demand that the scenic assets bo turned to the fullest account by improving the means of communications of the district more widely known.