CORRESPONDENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 March 1929, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

PUBLICITY NEEDS. (To the Editor.) I venture to suggest that one of the pressing needs of Westland is more publicity together with its improved direction. I believe the Westland Progress League could perform a very useful task at this juncture by taking up the matter, and endeavouring not only to co-ordinate .matters locally, but by seeking aid from the Government Departments involved in publicity work—namely Tourist, Railways and Publicity Department—better value would accrue and a quicker return would come. The suggestion I would offer at this stage is that representatives of local bodies and local advertisers within Westland (including hotel, .proprietors motor-proprietors owners of watering places etc.) should be called together with the object of considering a concrete scheme. The scheme should consist in the main of a polling of local resources for a year, and the expenditure of the amount available along set lines; together with meeting officers from the three Departments named to confer with them regarding joint publicity action without danger of overlapping. An effort of this nature carried out intensively during the year up and down the Dominion as well as in Australia and Overseas, should yield a wonderful return next season The suggestion is that the League should take the matter up, and immediately after Easter call the conference, inviting the co-opcration of the Hon. Minister in charge of Publicity, end endeavour to get under way. As regards the pooling of funds, motor and hotel proprietors at present spend considerable sums annually advertising in various ways. The idea is that based on the year’s outlay (or the amount disposed to be expended) they should pay the sum in quarterly instalments to the local, committee of control. This amount could and should be supplemented by votes from local bodies together with any other source of local income. The amount available for the season would be known and could be apportioned over a period of six or seven months intensive work (1) in the Dominion (2) in Australia (3) further overseas. A small committee of control would suffice, and such committee would keep in touch with the three Government Departments which could singly or unitedly support or follow up the publicity work locally directed, and so ensure unity of action as well as more sustained work. The work at the outset could confine itself to newspaper advertising in the four centres, using both the daily and illustrated newspapers. The aim would be to have something about Westland attractions published in each centre as frequently as possible. This vehicle for publicity could be supplemented by nightly advertising in the leading picture palaces of the principal New Zealand towns. For Australia and Overseas publicity through booklets and photographs should be maintained. Every tourist bureau, and motoring garage, and travel office in New Zealand should be kept supplied with Westland literature. Series of postcards should be broadcasted, and to obtain new pictures and variety in views, a photograpic competition should be opened, and local interest in the work stimulated in that way. The closest touch should be maintained also with all Automobile Associations in both Islands, and suitable literature with particulars of tours and camping places supplied. Publicity pays. The movement would be governed by the funds available and the co-operation of the Government Departments. Me ha\e evciJ right to expect special help from the Government Departments because the scenic gems of Westland have noiv become world renowned and it will pay the country as well as the district to broadcast the fullest particulars and information regarding the soenic resources of the district. The oiganisation would result in special attention being drawn to our district, and the information would be authentic. Local business people contributing to the scheme would have facilities for special mention of their business enterprises and tariff charges the publicity to be both general and specific as regards different resorts and the method of reaching them. I am etc. D. J. EVANS.