ADVANCING NEW PLYMOUTH.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 December 1921, Page 5

ADVANCING NEW PLYMOUTH.

TOWN’S WONDERFUL ASSETS ACCOMMODATION LACKING. PROPOSAL TO OVERCOME PROBLEM. It is always refreshing to hear what outside business men think of New Plymouth and its scenic and other attractions. Thus an address, given late yesterday afternoon, under the auspices of the Tourist and Expansion League, by Mr. Frank Goldberg, head of the advertising firm of the same name, was particularly interesting. There was a representative attendance of townsmen. Mr. T. C. List (chairman of the Tourist and Expansion League) presided and briefly introduced the speaker, -nrhom he described as a “real live wire”. Mr. Goldberg, after expressing his gratification at so many attending at such an inconvenient hour, said that residents did not appreciate the real value of New Plymouth, which he would describe /as the best town in ’New Zealand for its own. particular purposes. To the tourist it had every possible sport to offer. This last week-end he had looked round a little, and was amazed at the various attractions—the waterfront and beaches, the most magnificent bowling greens, the most luxurious gardens, besides opportunities for golf, fiahing, etc. But one important factor had been overlooked—yis., the accommodation of tourists when they got here, and he advised those present to formulate a scheme whereby an accommodation house on up-to-date lines could be erected in New Plymouth. They would find then that tourists would come, not for a few days only, but for a considerably longer period. Such a house would prqye an enormous attraction. He estimated that an accommodation house of 150 rooms, on the American pattern, could be erected for £3OO a room. This scheme he did not think too big, because of the number of people who went to places like Rotorua, who would be induced to come here instead. Mr. Goldberg instanced the assets we had in our magnificent roads and the hot sea-water baths, which he had only discovered that day. “New Plymouth does not toot its own horn enough,” Mr. Goldberg proceeded'. We .should tell the people of New Zealand what we had to sell. All that was necessary was to lure tourists to our shores, and business men. should awaken to the opportunities offering. QUESTION OF COST. In the United States, through which Mr. Goldberg had recently travelled, the hotel tariff was five to ten dollars (25s to 50s) a night. All conceivable conveniences were installed, so that the bed-sitting room and the suite of rooms were all in one. Even the smallest town in the United States had its accommodation house, and thus brought people to the town. An idea he had to offer was that a body of Influential men should form themselves into the nucleus for making future arrangements for an accommodation house. If & hundred men came forward with £lOO each the scheme could be put on a basis, and 100 more would quickly come forward. He had just been through Taranaki, and he was sure the investment would be a good proposition, even at a cost of £3OO a room, and the returns would be anything between 25 per cent, and 30 per cent. It had been said that we had crffly a four-months’ season, but he was sure the hotel would be filled all the year round, instancing the case of the Mt. Cook Hermitage in support of his contention. There was nol enough enthusiasm and time given to this wonderful tourist proposition. The townsmen must get together. Personally he would be willing to assist in any “drive” for the purpose he had outlined, as he was indirectly interested. The more people who were attracted to the town, the more business would result for each individual firm.

In response to an expressed desire to tell more about the scenic advantages of the towns he had been to in America and England, and the manner in which scheme; were formulated to bring tourists to those towns, Mr. Goldberg gave a few instances and a general resume of his observations in those parts in which he had recently travelled. At Seattle, the west port of America, the large Chamber of Commerce had arranged advertising space in the newspapers, besides issuing booklets, pamphlets, etc., to all the hotels and on all the railways in the United States, thereby crowding their town with tourists. Other typical instances given were Lake Louise (Canada), Banff (adjoining Lake Louise), and Longbeach. In England some towns had struck a penny in the £ in addition to ordinary rates for the purpose of boosting their particular town, and such towns as Margate and Bournemouth, amongst others, had found this scheme highly successful.

In New Plymouth there were admittedly the finest attractions possible, but there was nowhere to stay. He thought the newspapers could assist the scheme for “one big drive” by propaganda. Palmerston North, with not anything like the attractions New Plymouth had, had formulated a scheme involving £lOO,OOO for an up-to-date hotel. SMALLER SCHEME FAVORED. Mr. List said they were considerably obliged to Mr. Goldberg for offering his assistance. All recognised the urgency of the need, but the amount of money required was considerable. He thought a much more modest scheme might be worked. The Tourist and Expansion League had in recent times spent £4OO a year for the purpose of “putting New Plymouth on the map”, and had found this had worked most efficaciously, as in the third year after the commencement of this scheme all the visitors could not be accommodated. It was hard to find money in these times, and he thought td launch out on a £50,000 or £75,000 scheme would only be to court defeat. The local assets, he assured Mr. Goldberg, were highly valued and zealously guarded. Mr. Goldberg said that £75,000 would cover a comprehensive scheme, but they could first build in sections, with, say, 50 rooms, and add as time warranted. Mr. T. H. Bates estimated that nothing like what was wanted could be built for £50,000. It was possible, he thought, to build at £2OO per room. They would need at least 100 rooms, besides which land had to be purchased. t It was generally considered that the only way to raise the necessary money was by the townspeople coming forward. There was little hope of help being secured from the banks. The chairman asked if Mr. Goldberg would be prepared, when a scheme was formulated, to give his personal assistance for a week or a fortnight. He was sure Mr. Goldberg’s assistance in “putting the scheme over” would be invaluable. Mr. Goldberg said they could depend on his giving any assistance in his power and capacity in the new year, providing he was available. He had spoken indirectly to several influential men, who agreed with him that the scheme was a sound one, and had expressed their willingness to ’ help financially. On the motion of Mr. W. Skinner a hearty vote of thanks, carried by acclamation, was accorded Mr. Goldberg. In returning thanks Mr. Goldberg said he had the interests of the tourist resorts and towns of New Zealand at heart.