TOURIST TRAFFIC.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5454, 29 July 1929, Page 3

TOURIST TRAFFIC.

PANDERING TO VISITORS. SIR FRANCIS BELL’S VIEWS. The idea that in-opening up scenic attractions in New Zealand the comforts of overseas tourists rather than those of New Zealanders should be studied, was emphatically protested against in the Legislative Council by the Rt. Hon. Sir Francis Bell, who was equally emphatic in his opinion Zealand should be a country for New Zealanders. If tourists wanted to come here ; well and good, he said, but why on earth we should advocate a principle that every scenic resort should be converted into a place of comfort of tourists was more than he could understand. It was injurious .’ All people were not able to tip like these tourists/ Tourists, he continued, provided money for no othei' classes of the community than the publicans and the photographers. Of what possible value were they ? New Zealanders ought to be hospitable and have their doors open, but why should tliey spend their time ’and money providing for people from abroad, he had never been able to uiiuerstand. He thought that the advocacy of spending money to provide comfort for people who paid nothing to the revenue was degrading and conttary to the spirit of a free country. Switzerland was an example which we. should avoid. There, every free and independant Swiss was touching his hat to the tourist. The. prosperous Swiss were the publicans, photographers, taxi-people, waiters and guides.