EASTER NEAR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 69, 23 March 1937, Page 8

EASTER NEAR.

EARLY HOLIDAY.

HEAVY HOTEL BOOKINGS.

VISITORS COME AND GO.

With Easter almost here, Auckland is preparing for a reshuffling of its population for the duration of a crowded few days. After they have passed, the old faces will be seen on city streets throughout the long months of winter, spring \and early summer—for Easter will be the last break of any such length until Christmas comes again. Falling this year more than a fortnight earlier than in 1936, it will arrive at a time when memories of the midsummer vacation still, linger, and by those whose annual holidays have come in between it will be hailed almost as a continuation of a respite broken only by occasional periods of work. Although Easter offers an opportunity to get away from home and city for a short few days—an opportunity which many hundreds will take—it will result as well in a balancing influx into the city. Hotels, it was learned to-day, anticipate even greater demands on accommodation than were experienced last year. Most of them expect to be "very full" by Saturday morning. In some cases bookings have been made months in advance, while experience In other cases has shown that preparation must be made for a last-minute rush for accommodation.

One manager said that although his hotel on present indications would be fully taxed, it was quite probable that cancellations of early bookings would be made by people who had altered their plans, and so other intending visitors might be found room. Another stated that his bookings did not seem to be very heavy yet, for it seemed that the rush was holding off until the ' last minute. However, the house was certain to be full by Saturday morning; as in other years, his guests would mainly be country or provincial people, many of them "up for the races.''

Bookings at Wellington hotels are reported to be heavier than they were a year ago, and the popular tourist resorts of the North Island are filling. Accommodation at the Chateau Tongariro, Napier, Waikaremoana, Wairakei, Taupo, Rotorua and Wanganui is much in demand. Numbers pf North Island people will be making brief visits to the southern resorts. Trains, ears and boats will be crowded with • pleasure-seekers. With the holiday falling so early, high hopes ore entertained of mild and even summery weather for the extended week-end. For that reason it is probable that more are planning to go far afield. Hundreds will arrange picnics and travel on harbour and land excursions, and hundreds more will watch and take part in the usual comprehensive programme of sports. Of more than local attraction will l>e the Auckland Racing Club's autumn meeting at Ellerslie.

And so the reshuffling process which Auckland temporarily undergoes should this Easter be more marked than e\'er Why is this so? A hotel manager volunteered that the reason was the increasing general prosperity and the growing willingness to spend. This, too is the first Easter at which the full !u u 3 ,l f new ißd »"trial legislation on the holiday-making of the people will be