N.P. TOURIST AND EXPANSION LEAGUE.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 October 1918, Page 3

N.P. TOURIST AND EXPANSION LEAGUE.

SECRETARY'S ANNUAL REPORT. The following is the secretary's annual report of the New Plymouth Tourist and Expansion League, to be presented to the annual meeting this evening: The activities of the league have been about the same during the past year as during previous seasons. Guide books have been largely distributed and also supplied to the offices of the Government Tourist Department and Thos. Cook & Sons. Both these offices report that there has been considerable inquiry for booklets in connection with New Plymouth and district. Supplies have also been sent to the central railway booking office, Wellington, and some of the leading hotels in Auckland and Wanganui. A large number of visitors to New Plymouth have called at the office prior to leaving, to express their thanks for and appreciation of the information they received per medium of the office, which had enabled them to make the best use of their time when in the district. When time is limited they find the league's guide-books of great assistance in mapping out their trips. As in previous years, the mountain has claimed the greatest attention. To give so"ue idea of the number of callers at the ifßce, I may mention that during January, February, March, and Apri (four months only) we made arrangements and booked seats for 323 people. This, of course, did not include callers who had their own cars, or who, after getting full information, made their own car arrangements. Quite a lot of people also called re steamer arrangements and particulars regarding railway travelling. Each season a great number have called at the office to purchase both steamer and railway tickets, being under the impression that it is a Government tourist office, running on similar lines to the Wellington and other offices of the Government.

A new guide-book has been issued, and thready it is in demand. During the year the financial problem has engaged the attention of the committee. In view of the many calls on the people the committee have not pressed the matter unduly, enough money coming from the Mountain House Committee, the Jockey Club, and subscribers to pay expenses. A conference w. - .s held between a subcommittee of the league and representatives of thp various seaside committee?, ! the object being to talk matters over and see if by united action some means could be devised of helping the finances both of the committees and the league. The whole matter will probably bo brought up for discussion at the annual meeting, when, it is hoped, some definite plan may be evolved for raising funds to still further extend the league's usefulness in bringing not only casual -visitors to .New Plymouth, but also in endeavoring to induce a greater number of people to settle in New Bxmouih,.