TOURIST AND RAILWAY DEPARTMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 19 December 1928, Page 2

TOURIST AND RAILWAY DEPARTMENT

(Extract from the "Eden Gazette

It is probable that one result of tin recent genera! election is. with Sii .Joseph Ward heading a new govern, meiit. that the gradual absorption o' the Tourist Department by the Railway Department will be stopped. While the Tourist Department ha> not displayed the enterprise il shouh have in later years due to inefficient leadership, still it could lie a mori useful organisation. As the father o! this department over 2d years ago. Sir. Joseph Ward i- more likely t'< give it another lease of life and set wbat can lie done. There is no doubt that under the management, of Air T 1C Donne it did g'cat work and at that time carried out the advertising of our scenic resorts. Both Sir Jos eph and many of the United Parts candidates made many rcleremc- m the platform to the need lor capita lining our tourist advantages. \\ it! Liu* election ol Air A. -I. Stallworth' and Mr W. .J. Broadl'oot. officers o the N.Z. Tourist League ol Auckland theie will .lie some members in tin House who have an appreciation ol tin importance ol the business. While the Railway Department ha lately certainly shown more of a de-in to serve the public, still its efforts an a long way short "I wlmt a privati company like tile C.l’.R. does in tin way of encouraging travel. As linin' of our resorts, where the aceommoda tii'n houses are owned b\ the lourisi Department are some distance awa* 1 rom tin* railway, motor cars are needed* to make connections 1 here is a strong suspicion in tin* public mini Unit if flu* Railway Department took ov-i* the work ot planning itineraries ami booking tour-, it might not do Urn right tiling by the tourist in routing him over service cars where his coniton ami convenience clearly required i(. There is undoubtedly an obvious advantage in having these two Departments. aioug with tin* Publicity Office, under the one .Minister, mi order ti promote) more co-ordination.

Did a n mil her of the main centres the Railway and Tourist Departments have recent I,\ taken up the joint occupation of new premises. Further sign(if the overshadowing oi the Tourist Depart meiit were t*i lie seen in Hie work of the Post. Office Agents on tlie (rans-Pm ili<- steamers who help travellers to plan itineraries through the Dominion. Whereas the lourisi manager used to go on board and complete arrangements lor hours. now these people are passed on to Hie Railway Department agents at the port* of arrival.

It. is t*> lie hoped that a real effort will he made to develop the tourist possibilities of the Dominion as they can be made a s"b«trtntinl source of national income. Tf Canada within a few years can receive over £50.000,000 annually from Ibis source, surely New Zealand, with .its wonderful scenic and sport opportunities can exjioct to get more than the £1,000.0(10 pgr annum which is now estimated to come from oversea visitors. On a proportionate basis, 'vc* klioilld lx* leceiving at least. £5,000.000 in this way. It will be interesting to see if under a United Party Cabinet a more serious attempt will be made to exploit our tourist resources.