The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY JUNE 13, 1933. SCENIC GLORIES.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 June 1933, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY JUNE 13, 1933. SCENIC GLORIES.

A recent publication cf the Railways Mags mat! .contains a reference to- a late competition i “What is New Z<*&» land s baey ecetiiQ jouture “ , The ituitor lemwrks tuat the entries show a restricted choice! Of these it is interesting tj note sixteen per cent was aevoicd to the Southern nips and the glaciers, and fifteen per cent to the *v'est Coast of the South Island. Ifc 15 perhaps net surprising to those who know the scenic gurries cf 'Westland, to find that a third cf the writers have revehed in the beauties of this wonderland. The Editor, by the. way, is surprised to hud that Rotorua, the best Known place to visitors from overseas, was lmrdly mentioned in the competition 1 This of course would not be so .surprising to the critic if he knew' the charms of Westland, in oontrast with those of Rotorua. The latter is a much boomed feature of. Mew Zealand’s attractions, and to that fact the overseas notoriety it enjoys is attributed. Were the scenic i featured of this Coast similarly advertised, and special trains provided as often ias they run to Rotorua, this district as a natural tourist •day ground, would, come into its own. The district is greatly neglected by the authorities in the matter of publicity, or in regard to catering for traffic to the Coast as a play ground. The' Government appears to have so many eggs in the North Island basket that the South Island is neglected notably. Over and over again there are complaints of the favouritism shown the north, while the south is left to work' out it sown destiny. It is alleged that tourist booking offices boycott igs far as they can, southern features to the greater patronage of the north, and parts of the South Island, and particularly the Coast, suffer greatly on this account. How' often does one hen?;praise from visitors v:ho drop in here casually and were not directed from the bureaux, and expressions of surprise ! that a district of such outstanding attractions is not known outside more widely. The recent competition on the scenic resorts cf the ‘Pomivv*ui should open the eyes of the authorities where the greater attraction,--; be. We may now expect some greater consiclerat'o'i when one third of the writers on ; the subject select mountain fastnesses I end the unique scenic gems of the i Toast re the best featm-es of N<"w Zealand scenery. That judgment, we are pr'sivul.'d. is not astvpv. WerldtrPvellcrr, over and over again, have extolled the great asset Westland posse »?"s in its sc'nic features, and with this confirmation there is o ,r ory r'ght in eskin'T pM emcctiiv" from the authorities .a eliam'o cf nelicy regarding the measure of publicity meted out to this term tow. Th'-- w rol 1 new cenmhint. Tt. has ba"o emidm.'i'Ol be lore, hut in; list 5 •’O of J ho oasfc ir. "ailed to mi”' l hv tli" use" $; cciroelition ,;' I se held whiff; has brought prominently io no+iee th" pronounend favour i” which Ctarirt scenic board i n are held by them best.

qualified to know of their attractive value and unique interest.