The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, MAY 2, 1929. ADVERTISING WESTLAND.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 May 1929, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY, MAY 2, 1929. ADVERTISING WESTLAND.

Evnu since the lit. Hon Mr Amery toured South Westland some two years ago, and boomed the Southern district for its good roads and splendid scenery, the south lias begun to come into its own as regards tourist patronage. Last year showed a good increase over previous records. Last Christmas there was a very satisfactory increase, while Easter just passed, is said to have eclipsed the Christmas traffic in the south. This is very gratifying. The increase in visitors means wider and wider publicity for the travellers come from all parts of the world. Many of them have the pens of ready writers. Several visitors of journalistic bent have been south, and one prolific writer has been penning copyright articles to the metropolitan press on the scenic virtues of our wonderful South Westland. The Government photographers have been ‘’doing” South Westland as a result of arrangements made by Mr Soddon last year, and spending some weeks in the south, must have a great st ire of pictorial matter to be released subsequently. In. another column today there is an article by a well-known Auekand writer, culled from the New Zealand Herald, in which fresh views on the glories of Westland are depicted. And in the thought for the times to-day there is expressed in very clear terms the impressions of an Australian visitor on the glories of the south. South Westland in the estimation of the traveller from Melbourne, has incomparable scenic beauties, and the wider this becomes known the steadier will be the growth of incoming visitors. Westland scenery is now beginning to advertise itself, as it were, by the impressions it leaves, on the minds of visiting people. The great asset possessed by tin* district should lie made more of for advertising purposes. A reference lias boon made to the visit of the publicity cameramen south. It would lie very fitting if their work were specially prepared for a eoinnlete tour of the Dominion lie fore being sent overseas, ft sh-n'ld be* po«si le to arrange for this to he don s The matter is one which might ’veil he brought before the Minister of Fdu alion when here next wek. Air Alnvre is aim"! a Coa«ter. being a resident at Nd son. and as he is to go south end w:!l see something of the scenic realities, it would he very appropriate on his return to seek his help in urging the

Government to give the district the special publicity it is possible to give ■y a special display of the pictures so lately taken, and which we feel sure will cover a range of scenic gems not to lie found in such close juxta-position in any other part of the world. It is understood these pictures are intended in the main to be sent abroad for advertising purposes, and in that respect are sure ti be of’ value in attracting attention of would-be travellers to New

Zealand in general and Westland in particular; but it would bo well if ~ew Zealanders could see the series, as an inducement for the people of the Dominion to see their own country .!rst. It is not too much to ask for special consideration in this matter. Westland has had but a small share of the tourist expenditure. Some help from that quarter, and from the Railway Department, as well as local contributions towards, snob a .movement, would provide for the initial cost of a tour of New Zealand for a pictorial ulvertisement which should prove of the greatest value to the district. We eiicvc Mr Seddon had something of this in mind when asking lor the visit

f the publicity photographers, and the idea should be carried through. Westland needs advertising to the fullest, and here are the means to afford that legrcc of publicity which may he cal••ulated to give the greatest value in the shortest time.