“GOOD TOWN SPOILED”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 312, 24 March 1928, Page 5

“GOOD TOWN SPOILED”

FOOLISH REGULATIONS SYDNEY VISITOR’S COMPLAINT “Did I see Auckland? Did I what? I risked my neck and tried to, but if there is a good town spoiled by fool regulations it is this Auckland.” \ WELL set-up Australian thus unburdened himself to-day to an Aucklander who civilly asked him if he had been able to see much oi the town during his stay. He had saved money for years to make a trip to New Zealand and anticipatory pleasure had made up for many a yearning to spend some of the money so carefully hoarded for the “holiday.” The realisation had been a disappointment—not in the country or its scenic wonders, but in the way a stranger was treated. The New Zealand Government Tourist Office in Sydney had given the prospective traveller to New Zealand a typewritten circular that was as illuminating as a negro preacher’s discourse on the seventh heaven. The visitor abandoned any idea of getting information on Auckland and the Dominion in the tourist bureau and dug up what scraps he could from chance friends. When he clambered up the ship’s gangway at Sydney a form was thrust in his hand which he was told to have filled up ready when the Customs officers boarded the steamer at Auckland. This required him to make a ridiculous declaration of loyalty. Later he was presented another form that he had to have by him ready to sign in the customs examination shed at Auckland, by which he bound himself to reveal if he had any dutiable goods in his luggage. Having struggled through the fences on the wharf that appear to have been erected to prevent people reaching the town the stranger looked for an hotel and started out to view the city. CATCHING A BUS Attracted by an advertisement for a 36-mile drive to Titirangi, he vainly made an effort to clamber on a bus that rolled past the Post Office. A bus man nearby noticing the discomfiture of the tourist kindly advised him to wait and “get her next time round.” It was then learned that the Auckland City Council, apparently in the belief that strangers should not be encouraged to view the city and suburbs, prevents the sight-seeing buses picking up passengers, most of whom are visitors, in Queen Street. If the bus stops the driver is prosecuted and fined up to £5; if he rolls the bus so that enterprising and reckless visitors attempt to board the vehicle he is prosecuted for loitering. In this instance the Australian caught her “next time round” as advised. Then commenced the most humorous voyage in Auckland. The bus rolled round the Customs Street East corner, crawled around the safety zone, crossed Queen Street, turned dow-n Little Queen Street, and back into Queen Street, past the Ferry Buildings. Six times or more was the trip made, and by that time the tourist was thoroughly acquainted with the back premises of the shops

fronting Queen Street, the Ferry Building, the Post Office viewed from the harbourside and from the up-street side. Likewise he had a nodding acquaintance with the traffic officer at the junction of Queen and Customs Streets. When at length the hour for commencing the travel proper arrived, the bus swung out of Queen Street, and along Custom Street. DODGING THE BEST “Don’t we see the main street?” gasped the visitor, only to be told that the City Council forbids visitors going along the principal street in a bus. Passing over Grafton Bridge, “the finest concrete span in the world,” on the word of the bus driver, the Domain was passed, the visitor learning again that the City Council forbids sight-seeing buses taking tourists through the Domain or near the Winter Gardens. In the Waitakeres tourists cannot approach near enough to view the magnificent kauris, supposed to be one of Auckland’s attractions. In Dufledin the water catchment areas are open to the public and are the most popular places for picnics. Auckland does not want anyone to see its waterworks. In Wellington the sight-see-ing buses are encouraged to take people about the city and help advertise it; in fact, that is considered a duty on the owners of the bus services. In Sydney the municipal authority allots definite stands in the heart of the city to tourist services, where any visitor may go and be welcomed. In Europe and America the visitor is received with open arms and every courtesy is shown. The money he brings is gladly received, and even from the purely commercial aspect it pays to treat strangers civilly. But in Auckland the tourist is forbidden to see the main street if he travels in a sight-seeing bus; forbidden to view the Domain, forbidden to go and inspect the best of the kauris in the ranges. Harassed by the Govern ment and its declarations, restricted by City Council restrictions, and made to feel uncomfortable, it is iittle wonder that an Australian in our city may feel that Auckland is a good city spoiled by fool regulations.