PUBLICITY ABROAD.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18095, 10 June 1924, Page 6

PUBLICITY ABROAD.

AMERICAN FIELD NEGLECTED. (SPBOIUi TO "iffl PHfiSS.") WELLINGTON, June 9. Mr Frank Tait, who returned to-day. from, a business visit to the United States, related an experience he had in Los Angeles to illustrate the necessity for Dominion propp/anda abroad? He met there a cloakroom attendant, down on his luck. He was an Englishman, and was trying to get. enough money to take him back to England. "Why don't you go out to New Zealand or Australia f" asked Mr Tait. "I was told," the man" replied, "that I could not go to Australia unless I belonged to a union.'| "I said I could not believe that anyone could give him such information," continued Mr Tait, "but he assuYed me. that what he had said -was correct. That shows that the system of propaganda about these countries is bf.ti. I tried 'to disabuse him, but I suppose he waß doubtful. "New Zealand and Australiaj" 'Mr Tait declared^"aTe Very attractive to actors and actresses, who always want to know when they can come back to these parts. If these countries are good enough for these people, then they should be good enough for wealthy tourists, especially New Zealand, which possesses so much of interest, and has so many natural allurements." / Mr Tait said Canada has got the business of making itself known down to a fine att. Regarding New Zealand, he said: Here yon have a wonderful country/, If the average American knew anything ktbout the South Pacific he would jump at the opportunity of coming here, because, the journey is not such a long one.' But there is no information to be had in America about the steamers which cater'for this trade, how long the journey occupies, what the country is like, or even when the mails elose. It is not that the pepple in the hotels don't want to tell you anything. The trouble is that there is no driving force to push propaganda about the country. "The hotels in America are avenues through which travellers pass in thousands. They are almost like cities in themselves, so.it is not a matter ot going after the right people. It' is only a question of getting the right information to the people. There they are waiting to be feci with it. For climatic and other rqasons there is ati Enormous influx of people to the Californian coast, especially to Los Angeles, and that is only , a jumpmgoft' ground to New Zealand and Australia."