PARLIAMENT

Lake County Mail, Issue 19, 1 October 1947, Page 4

PARLIAMENT

The value to New Zealand from a tourist traffic was emphasised by Mr T. L. Macdonald (Nat., Wallace), speaking on the estimates in the House of representatives. The Aid to Britain conference had recommended that all avenues should be explored to encourage tourists from hard currency areas, and in particular, the United States, .to visit New Zealand, thereby augmenting New Zealand’s dollar earnings. Valuable -National Asset New Zealand had tremendous tourist possibilities, said Mr Macdonald, but it would not be possible to cash in on them unless the authorities planned wisely, organised very efficiently, and worked willingly, and unless the people were prepared to make real sacrifices in order that tourist traffic might be developed as speedily as possible. South Island resorts needed a great deal of development before they could be hoped to attract, accommodate and satisfy tourists.

Queenstown was not only a summer resort, but was going to Ijc New Zealand’s leading winter resort, because of the ski-ing ground that was being developed. The New Zealand ski-ing championships would be held there next year. Queenstown was coining into its own as a winter resort. Catering for Visitors The borough motor camp had done a great deal of good work in catering for visitors, and was hoping to provide additional winter accommodation also. The camp required 40 or 50 army huts to handle the extra crowds. The Government could help also by continuing the road up the lake to Glenorcby. Mr Macdonald also listed other South Island tourist resorts and emphasised the value the tourist trade could be to New Zealand.