Tourist Traffic

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 293, 2 March 1928, Page 13

Tourist Traffic

“NORTH ISLAND’S” UNFAIR INFLUENCE” SOUTHERN COMPLAINT The belief that the South Island is not receiving its due proportion of tourists visiting the Dominion as a result of Government neglect in favour of the North Island is voiced in the South Island. Writing to the Christchurch Progress League, two citizens have stated that cases have come under their notice wherein tourists have not been encouraged to include the South Island in their itinerary owing to the influence of the North Island. An assurance by the Minister of Tourist Resorts that Southern complaints are groundless is not accepted by the Canterbury Progress League, which desires further consideration of the complaint. TOURIST LEAGUE’S VIEW This alleged discrimination was referred to-day to Mr. T. Walsh, secretary of the New Zealand Tourist League. Mr. Walsh said the South Island, with its very fine attractions, which were in direct contrast with those of the North, had some reason for being disappointed at the number of visitors who toured that island. The cause was not discrimination by the Government Tourist Department, which issues only a portion of the itineraries, nor with the other tourist agencies. Neither would placing men at Auckland or Wellington materially help unless salesmen of ability are hired, for usually the visitor has almost completed his plans before reaching New Zealand. The real trouble is that oversea steamer services to New Zealand are based on the North Island and that visitors instead of having unlimited money and time to see New Zealand are strictly limited in both. For instance, one visitor landed at Auckland last week with 48 hours at his disposal. Quite 50 per cent, of arrivals could not spare seven days to see New Zealand, while it required 14 days’ travel, almost day and night, to get even glimpses of the North and South Islands. If the steamer services from Australia to the South Island were better the South Island would have less cause for complaint. People with limited time, coming via Australia, or Australians on tour, could see either the South or the North Island. The thermal wonders and the glow-worm caves, which do not exist m the South Island, are the objectives of many tourists, and they make their plans accordingly. The South Island could, however, derive much patronage from North Island residents by using proper methods.

“NO INFLUENCE”

DEPARTMENT DEFENDED Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, To-day.^ The Tourist Department, which has been subjected to much criticism recently, was defended by the Hon. W. Nosworthy in correspondence read at last evening’s meeting of the executive of the South Island Motor Union. “In no single case,” he writes, “has a tourist been persuaded by a Government official not to visit the South Island, and I may say in reply that it is not satisfactory to deal with generalities. “Every effort is being made to place both Islands on the same footing,” stated the Minister.