Tempting Tourists to N.Z.

Radio Record, Volume IX, Issue 14, 11 October 1935, Page 13

Tempting Tourists to N.Z.

Visits of Police to Hotel Lounges Often Alarm Overseas Visitors

The article in last week’s "Radio Record" dealing with the restrictions that hamper tourists. in New Zealand has aroused a good deal: of comment. In conversation with a representative of this paper, Mr. Percy Coyle, general secretary of the National Council of the Licenséd Trade, said that the restrictions against dancing in New Zealand hotels had been commented ou by many tourists, especially at holiday-time. The visits of police, too, to hotel lounges was deplored by tourists, who were often led to believe that some sort of crime had.been committed in the hotel. "Visitors to our cities are often unable to adequately repay those persons who have entertained them," said Mr. Coyle. "People who are staying at the Hotel Australia, in Sydnrey, for instance, can invite their friends to supper dances at the hotel."

"The very high potential-value of our tourist industry is, being. more and.more recognised by the. Government. and. by those interested in catering for visitors to this country,".continued Mr. Coyle. "A very encouraging degree . of... co-. operation is, being shown. by.:all- concerned, and -the. way is: clear -for the

development of plans to increase the value of our tourist industry many times over. "We tell the world that we have unsurpassed scenic delights, aud we can certainly deliver the goods. We also convey to prospective visitors the impression that we can offer them firstclass up-to-date accommodation, and all of those amenities rightly expected by those who come here in holiday vein. But, unfortunately, our methods of catering for tourists in this respect are hopelessly inadequate, Jt is a highly anomalous position, witbont’ counterpart in any country in the world that competes with us for tourist traffic, that in many of our most beautiful resorts there jg an absence, enforced by law, of up-to-date licensed premises, In some cases first-class unlicensed accommodation houses exist. but the lack of a license is a very severe handicap, and evidence is not wanting that. tourists have frequently avoided such places or have curtailed their stay. This has prevented an _ enterprising policy of development. as well as proving a fly in the ointment for the tourist. ‘Visitors from overseas patronise those places which are able to offer the facilities to which they have becom« accustomed in other countries and ou board ship.-:No shipping company catering for tourist business svould at-

tempt: to run ‘dry’ ships, or even one ‘dry’ ship. Why should New Zealand definitely discourage and disappoint tourists with ridiculous restrictions that do nobody any good-restrictions . Which are bad business and bad psy-

chology. ‘These conditions have arisen ag a resuit Of the disinclination of the -..Government te tackle a matter thal obviously demands attention. Certainly it Can no longer be supposed that these conditions meet with the approval _ Of any substantial degree of public sentiment, which, in any case must have been badly'construed in the framing of regulations which. even gv tothe extent of preventing overseus visitorg dancing on licensed premises. If the péople of New Zealand want to prohibit dancing, or anything else, let us have that prohibition, and take the consequences, but when public opinion and ordinary business sense both denounce the ridiculous system of piebald prohibition that we now have, is it tev much to suggest that an honest attempt to remedy the position should he made."

N Z. Has Reputation For Sobriety IN connection with the story. on _ this-page it is rather interesting to note that, according to figures, Nev .Zealand is the soberest: country in the world. The. following report, recently tabled in Parliament, shows the percentage of convictions for drunkenness. per thousand of population: 1929) Laces 0.463 © 1930) ..eceeee 0.424 193) gece. ee 0.321, 1932 seeeeeee 0,267 1933. ceeseaee . 0.233 1934 veceeaes 0.218