CANADA TOURISTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 234, 2 October 1940, Page 5

CANADA TOURISTS.

NEW CURBS HURT US.

DOLLARS OVER THE BORDER.

(By J. H. FISHER.)

OTTAWA, Ont., Aug 20

Although the border between the two friendliest nations on earth remains unfortified, it is now easier for Americans to cross it going north than for Canadians to journey over it south. And this notwithstanding the fact that Canada ie a country at war while the United States remains at peace with ] the world. When Uncle Sam, on July Jl, put into effect his new passport rcgu- | liition on everyone entering hie country. iho hit U.S. travel organisations and "tore* accustomed to Canadian business a blow in their tourist midriff. A few days later they took a 100,000,000 dollar solar plexus when the Canadian Foreign Exchange Board announced no more American funds for Canadians planning pleasure jaunts in the U.S.A.

Both nations will suffer in a social as well as a material Bense by the new restrictione born of the war which nevertheless are deemed necessary by the Governments at Ottawa and Washing-

ton. The practically unrestricted passage of Canadians and Americans to and fro across the international line has been the greatest contributing factor to the friendly, understanding relations which have marked 80 years of their historv.

In 1939 no fewex than 16,578,119! American citizens visited Canada for periods varying from a few hours to months. With only one-thirteenth of the United States' "population, Canada could not match this migration with a similar trek southward. Xeverthele*Canadian tourists, the greatest individual spenders in the world when they I take a holiday, have been leavin« 100,000,000 dollars annually in the",

neighbouring Republic For the duration of the war it will decline to a marc s trickle by reason of the Exchange!! Board's order. a ( Wooing American Currency. ; Canadians hope this will not dis- ' courage Americans from coming in their i l millions to Canadian playgrounds this] 1 year. The Dominion Government and' 1 ite Travel Bureau officials are going to] considerable trouble to assure pros- ! |>ective U.S. tourists that, notwith-jf standing this country's participation injj jthe war, it is just as easy for the bona-!' fide vacationist to come in as it ever ( was, and he will have no trouble getting ' out when his holiday is over. » Prime Minister King recently promised that visitors to Canada will sec a nation 1 ," at war, but also one in which life and y liberty run on as usual, with few ! restrictions. In addition to the scenery, the fishing and the playgrounds, the '' tourist agencies have another strong;' talking point for the American tourist] —a 10 per cent premium on all he' spends in the country. American cur-jj rency is to-day worth 10 per cent more'i than its Canadian counterpart. ■ There are plenty of well-authenticated < stories of the premium in practice. The 1 tale of the tourist who walked into a < Canadian restaurant and had a dollar' meal free can be duplicated by any American who comes to this country these days. How is it done! Having eaten a dollar meal, you give the waiter 10 dollars in American money and he ; will return you a similar amount in Canadian currency, which can be usedj for other purchases while in this country. All Guns Suspect Whatever the reason President Roose-I velt had for slapping a passport rule on' Canadians entering the United States.' the Dominion Government has not] thought it necessary to reciprocate. though there have been incidents which, might justify requiring passports of visitors to this country. Not so many I months ago three Americans, bearing! rifles, crossed the border to a Canadians city. Questioned in the usual way by;, 'jtbe immigration officers, they prcxiiioedi: i hunting licenses from the Game Depart-': i ment of the province and were allowed.. • to proceed. Police inquiry later disclosed j • they were members of a Deutsche Bund ( in the States. After that an order went : ; out quickly prohibiting the traii>j»oit of, lethal weapons across the border. {

This rule remains in force and may seriously affect American hunting ]«irties who have been thinking of autumn and Canadian game. Provincial Governments may yet succeed in securing some modification of the rule for huutens who can convince the authorities they will confine their shooting to animals and are not potential Fifth Colli inn ists. But while the Canadian Government lias been hanging out the welcome sigsi for United States citizens, other than gun carriers, it has been cracking down <>n Canadians who have been in the habit of taking their pleasures across the border, in Florida or California, in the winter, and in Maine or Yellowstone Park in the cummer. It is now impossible to purchase American funds from the Canadian Exchange Board for pleasure travel in tbe United States. There is some red tape even if the funds are required for travel for business purposes across the border. U.S. Dollars for War Purchases. These restrictions on the purchase of I foreign exchange will mean a lose in business for American stores and travel agencies of approximately 100,000,009 dollars annually. It is estimated that last year Canadians spent 94,000.000 dollars on travel in the States, and in addition they bought 10,000,000 dollars' worth of clothing, radios and incidentals in American shops which they brought into Canada duty free. In addition to keeping Canadian funds at home, the Foreign Exchange Board i» not allowing many American dollars tet remain in the pockets of Canadians. It requires every American dollar which finds ite way into the country to be sold to it The" 200,000,000 dollans which tourists will spend in the country thie (year; the proceeds of the gold sold t» jthe United States Treasury, estimated at |215,000,000 dollars annually, and the ieheques received by Canadians in payment for cattle and produce shipped to Chicago packing house* must be turned in to the Exchange Board and Canadian 'funde taken in return. ' With these American funds the Canaylian Government will purchase aeroplane engines and weapons of war from United iSt-atee manufacturers. It will also conit inue to pay interest and principal obligations on Canadian securities held in Wall Street. But primarily the Canadian Government if. interested in •jetting American dollanc so they can b» rvd to buv the machines to fish* Hitler. (X.A.X.A.