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Hokitika Guardian, 5 March 1929, Page 4

It may Ik? accepted that the majority of visiting firemen who started homewrfrd yesterday, will be potential advertisers 01 the district. It is pleasing to know the stranger within the gates was well entertained, and left us with regret and hopes to return again. Publicity of that character will not be harmful to the district, but it can bo realised it is not enough. More and more publicity should be arrived at if the district is to receive that share of the touring traffic its natural attractions warrant. It. is not surprising to find Sir Joseph Ward a live Minister in Charge of the Tourist Department, and already at Rotorua and at the Cold akos in Otago, the Department is active in regard to improvements and‘embellishment of those resorts. Westland should not be out of the scope ot ojtorations while the new broom is in service, and it would be well and wise 10 make definite application for attention in various directions to assist in improving local access to resorts, and in publishing over a wider field, and in a less spasmodic way than hitherto. I he great attractions of Westland. Extra drives in the vicinity of Hokitika could he created while at the same time opening up the country. The Tourist Department might well lx? asked to

concentrate on the completion of the road round Lake Kanieri to Kokatalii. Such a. highway would provide a drive of varied interest unrivalled in few districts, and affording an opportunity of seeing so milch of the district in a short time, which otherwise would he denied. There is a demand too, for road access from Waiho to the Franz Josef Glacier, and from Weheka to the Eox Giaeier. Both localities are coming into their own, and each is worthy oi improved access. A vehicle road on the south side of the Waiho river would still leave the foot track oil the north side, for those wishful of walking, while me vehicle route would save the time oi many where necessary, and likewise ensure a visit by many elderly people who are debarred from inspecting the glacier at close quarters, because of the Img trail to he covered. A natural Minder such as the Franz Josef Glacier in other parts of New Zealand, would long ago have had a sendee road, and .the want of it is becoming a matter of almost daily complaint. The Fox Glacier equally is coming to tiie lore, and improved access is a necessity. The diversion of the Main South road now being surveyed, will go some distance towards the glacier, and serve a double purpose, and the extra length of roadiug will, not lie beyond the resources ot the country, seeing that so many hundreds of tourists are now making the south trip annually. The position is such now that sustained publicity will be most helpful in augmenting the traffic, and keeping the district prominently under the notice of travellers and holidaymakers. Co-ordination of interests in flint respect would achieve the best results and assure the greatest allround advantage.