EXPANSION AND TOURIST LEAGUE.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 October 1917, Page 8

EXPANSION AND TOURIST LEAGUE.

ANJvUAL MEETLXG,

PUSHIXG NEW PLYMOUTH AHEAD. The annual meeting of the Taranaki Tourist and Expansion League was held in the Soldiers' Club last night, there being only a moderate attendance. The chairman (Mr. T. C. List) presided., The balance-sheet showed that receipts (subscriptions) totalled £O2 4s, and the expenditure £62 ]os Id. The balance in hand was £3 4s Id, but against this there were liabilities totalling £29. Mr. W. A. Collis (secretary) reported as follows: The work of the'office since the last annual meeting has been much on the same lines as in previous years. Most of the callers at the office' have been visitors from other parts of the Dominion, the greater number being North Island .visitors, although a fair number hailing from the South Island called at the ollice for information as to how best fill in their time during a visit that was often for only a limited period. The' visitors as a rule expressed themselves as being delighted with their stay in this' district, those who possessed their own motor cars being speeiallv pleased with the class of roads in the' Taranaki province. Wo in the office are ealled on for all sorts of information, apart altogether from the local work. In fact, the majority of those who call are under'the impression that the office is a Government Tourist Bureau, and as such is in a position to give information about all parts of New Zealand. Fortunately, as a rule we are in a position to give the desired information, and when unable to do so from personal ( knowledge, have only had to turn up the Ideal time-table, and we have in the majority of cases' been able to supply what was asked. Also, as in previous years, a great deal of time has been taken up in assisting inquirers to obtain the necessary board-ing-house accommodation. This i s a want that is still far short of the usual requirements, at anyrate during rush times, and, Us regards seaside accommodation, scores of people would come here if the necessary accommodation were available. While visitors are anxious to see as much as possible of the district, the mountain, of course, takes premier position, as during the holiday season we had as many aa 30 to 40 in ft single day to make arrangements for. In. addition to the week-days, T was always down on Sunday mornings to see that those who had booked were provided with seats, and, in this connection, Mr. Baker having given up the mountain run, I have arranged with Mr. WooJdridge to take up the work on t(*ms thivt, considering the increased prices of commodities, should be considered extremely moderate. In conclusion I should judge, from the number of people calling, that, the work of the League has not outlived its usefulness, as one and all express themselves as being pleased to have a place where Information can be obtained and the necessary arrangements made on their behalf.

In moving the adoption of the bal-ance-sheet, the chairman said that no doubt sufficient subscriptions could have been collected to meet the outstanding liabilities if the members of the com" mittee had more opportunity of canvassing tlie town. Reviewing the League's operations for the past year, be said that outside of keeping the bureau open in charge of the secretary little liad been done. The visitors had been as numerous as ever—probably more so—and tJiq difficulty had been to find accommodation for them all. New Plymouth as a holiday reseft was becoming more and more popular a s its attractions find resources became better known. The good roads attracted outside motorists in ev<=r-inereasing numbers, whilst a good many.people from other parts wpre tak. ing up their residence in the town. So much bo that houses for lotting purposes were becoming exceedingly difficult to obtain. Indeed, he was told by a leading land'agent that he could let fifty houses in a short time if they were amikblo, New Plymouth was a'different place from what it was five, or six years ago, and it had a. future- fu)l of promise, The League had done good work'in the past. Its publicity campaigns had created outside a different feeding respecting the town, and he noted with satisfaction that its citizens whenever they moved about spoke hopefully and enthusiastically of the town, where they used to be lukewarm or pessimistic. He did not credit the League with bringing about this change and the marked improvement manifested in the town, but its activities were certainly a contributing cause, and for that reason he would be sorry to see the League close down altogether. They did not get that help or encouragement they were entitled to expect from certain sections of the community, but, on the other hand, t"P,v had some very enthusiastic supporter's who realised that benefit had accrued »nd was accruing from the operations of the League, and did all they could to assist it financially. But he felt the basis of the league should be altered and broadened, and in this connection referred, to a suggestion. made by Mr. J. B. Cruickehank, that they sljpuld endeavor to get- a larger membership at a subscription of, say, a guinea, If this were done and with the help of the present subscribers they could carry on quite comfortably, and later on, when normal times came, they could porhaps launch out as they did during the first year or two of the League's existence. The bureau was performing a useful" work in the town, and lie was sure the public did not know, and therefore could not appreciate, the need it was filling. Every week in the summer it was largely used by visitors. In Mr. Collis they liad an enthusiast who carried out his duties mors as a labor of love and out of regard for the town, and not for the small remuneration attached to the office. It was for the meeting to say whether the League should continue or not. For himself, he believed it was essential to the town's development that they should keep the institution alive, though he felt townspeople as a whole should rally around it and evince more interest than they did in its operation?. Mr. J. R. Cruiekshank seconded the motion and spoke in support of the retention of the League, which, he said, was necessary for the continued expansion of the town, the attractions of which, in his opinion, were second to none in New Zealand. The results of the League's propaganda were obvious, but (hey should put the league on a basis that would render unnecessary the difficulty connected with the collection of subscriptions. .The remedy was to get" a larger number of townspeople interested in. the League. They should have no trouble in securing 200 subscriber? at, say, a guinea, and when normal conditions came there was no reason why the number should not be 500. At anyrate, there should Ibe that number interested

■in the progress and welfare of the town, !"We have the goods here," he concluded, "and I think we can display them in such a way as to bring people from other parts to Sew Plymouth." Mr. E. P. Webster 'trusted that the league would continue in its good work of advancing and furthering the interests of New iPlymouth. The league would be in a much more healthy position if the amount subscribed annually were spread over a larger number of people, each contributing a guinea, instead of a few having to shoulder the burder. Every person having an interest in the town should be a member of the league, for his subscription would be indirectly returned tenfold.

Mr. A. McHardy said' it would be a pity if tlie league had to suspend operations for want of subscriptions. The league's bureau was of very great convenience to visitors. He did not think that any more advertising should bo done at present, for there was t adequate accommodation in New Plymouth and visitors who might be brought to the town and were unable to secure accqmmodation would be disappointed. The idea of getting more subscribers was the fairest way of covering the liabilities. Otherwise the people of the town generally benefited at the expense of the few.

Mr. W. A. Collis referred to a promise made by the late Hon. Dr. McNab some time ago, when he was on a visit to New Plymouth, when the league's work was then brought to his notice, and he made inquiries as to the work being done and the manner of raising funds. Dr. McNab had expressed himself as quite satisfied with wliat was being done, and promised to do what he could to secure for it a Government subsidy. Mr. Collis went on to say that the league was doing more than merely advertising New Plymou; it was doing work that considerably benefited the Government.

The chairman said that the late Dr MeNab had stated definitely (hit the subsidy would be given, but unfortunately he died very shortly after his visit to New Plymouth.

It was suggested that the- promise made by the late Dr; McNab might well be brought before the head of the Tourist Department. The balance-sheet was then adopted. Mr. C. H. Burgess thought it might be advisable for the committee to sound, by circular, former subscribers, as to whether they wished the league to continue or not; and, if the response was inadequate, the committee could then consider the advisability of terminating the league. He moved in that direction. Mr. Webster seponded the motion, which was carried.

The following committee was elected for the ensuing year: Dr. Leatham, Messrs .T. C. Morey, S. W. Shaw. S. Teed. T. C. List, A. McHardy, J. Clarke, F. Jackson, J. MeLeod and J. R. Cruikshank.

A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the secretary for his past year's work.