MANY SIGHTSEERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 309, 30 December 1940, Page 8

MANY SIGHTSEERS.

TOURIST TRAFFIC UP. SHORT DISTANCE TICKETS. Taking full advantage of the fine spell which lias followed the brief break in the weather at the beginning of the holidays large numbers of people have continued to travel by road and rail to resorts in all parts of the Auckland Province and to more distant parts of the Dominion.

"Short-distance traffic is a record," said n railway official to-day, "and the demand for accommodation oil all trains is still heavy. More people have been travelling by rail than during the holiday season last year, but the proportion of short-distance journeys is greater. In contrast to the general rush to Wellington for the Centennial Exhibition, Aueklanders are now seeing more o£ their own province." Traffic on the Main Trunk was, however, still heavy, he said, and on Saturday an additional express had to be put on, making four. To-day the number was three, and it appeared that all would l>e filled. Immediately after New Year's Day a rapid increase in the number of travellers would occur as thousands of people began to return from their holidays. It was expected, from the trend of the bookings, that the peak would be reached on Monday, but Saturday might be nearly as busy.

Road services report large numbers of sightseers in the thermal and Taupo districts, where the scenic tours have been exceptionally popular. Ordinary road traffic around Auckland h«s shown a slight lull, but will be in full, volume again towards the end of the week, in pre|>aration for the reopening of offices and factories next week.