Neglected Glories of the South

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 25, 30 January 1937, Page 5

Neglected Glories of the South

AND LOST OPPORTUNITIES OF TOURISTS. Per Press Association. INVERCARGILL, Last Night. Astonishment at what he termed the sacrifice of tho South Island in the selection of show places of New Zealand for overseas visitors, was expressed this evening by Mr George Jaquiery who has just returned from the Science Congress at Auckland. Mr Jaquiery, as curator of the Southland museum and a member of the congress, was able to note the arrangements made for the Australian visitors who had a week of leisure at their disposal after the business of the congress. “There was no mention of the South Island in the programme of sightseeing,” declared Mr Jaquirey. “it appeared to bo Rotorua first, second and always with those responsible for the entertainment of the Australians. Indeed, so anxious were Government officials that visitors should see Rotoruu that they provided free transport. Borne of the delegates to congress would have welcomed the opportunity to visit the South Island. Many of them were keenly interested in New Zealand’s high mountain flora and said so. This flora constitutes about half of the plant life of New Zealand but as the majority grow on high mountains of the South Island, the visitors were not provided with the opportunity to see and 3tudy them. The glory of our alpine flowers is renowned and I think that provision should have been made for tho Australians to seo it.” There was some compensation, little as it was, he added, in the private screening of Mr Scott Thomson's (Dunedin) unique collection of slides of alpine flora, and those who witnessed it were greatly impressed with the exhibition. Some expressed regret that they would be unable to see the living plants. “Something should be done about this North Island parochialism,” concluded Mr Jaquiery. “We in the south are losing by it. I believe it would pay to have a South Island resident representative in Auckland to meet all overseas tourists so that the beauties of the South Island and the advantages of touring could be placed before them. Personal contact by a southerner is necessary and till we arrange for it, we will continue to suffer as I have illustrated. ’'