TOURISTS FROM AMERICA.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19861, 24 February 1930, Page 10

TOURISTS FROM AMERICA.

♦ delighted with new ZEALAND.

enthusiastic about scenery.

Greatly surprised at the many wonders that New Zealand has to offer World travellers, and thoroughly delighted with their visit to the Dominion, a party of fourteen American tourists arrived in Christchurch from the West Coast on Saturday evening.

They have nothing but praise for NewZealand —its scenery, its roads, and the facilities offered to travellers —and one of the party was highly enthusiastic regarding the Dominion's afforestation policy which, he stated to a representative of The Press, put- America to shame. He had gathered the impression, however, that the general perspective of the New Zealander was too close to allow him a full appreciation of the wonders of his own country—wonders which could never be made too much of when advertising New Zealand overseas. In charge of the party, and representing Criswell Tours, is Mr A. R. Anderson, and Mr J. A. Malcolm is accompanying the tourists through New Zealand on behalf of the New Zealand Tourist Department. Tie Itinerary. The party left San Francisco last November, and the itinerary has included Honolulu, Japan, China, the Philippine Islands, French Indo-China, Siam, Penang, Singapore, Java, Dutch East Indies, Australia, and so to New Zealand. A week has been spent in the North Island and, so far, "four days in the South Island. Yesterday the party motored round the City and suburbs, and to-day they hope to visit a number of the more important industrial concerns, the Museum, and other places of note. They leave this evening for Wellington, proceeding thence on the return journey to San Francisco. While in the North Island the tourists visited Auckland, Waitomo Caves, Rotorua, Wairakei, National Park, Wanganui, and Wellington, crossing over to Nelson, in the South Island, thence to Murchison, Reefton, Westport, Greynloutb, and lastly Christchurch.

Increase in Traffic. Members of the party were delighted with the road from Westport to Greymouth. "We have Been a good deal of coastline, but this is one of the most gorgeous motor drives that has yet come our way," said Mr Anderson. "We are surprised that New Zealand haß so much to offer. Our office has noted the heavy increase in passenger traffic from the Pacific Coast to New Zealand, and it is the special hobby of the owner of the company, Mr Criswell, to encourage more visits to New Zealand. "We have a chain of 200 tourist organisations in the United States, and it will be my duty, when I return, to make a full and comprehensive report ttpon the whole tour. I can assure you it will be an exceedingly favourable one.

"On the whole we have found the New Zealand hotels very good. But your Chateau, at Tonganro, is the last word in hotel accommodation. It is a wonderful place. Your country is developing rapidly, and we cannot say too much for the efficiency of the New Zealand Government Tourist Bureau. Your dairy produce is most excellent. At Honolulu we sampled New Zealand butter, and it is only New Zealand butter that is the real thing. when entering the tropics, diet must be studied, and it is most refreshing, after a spell in the heat, to come to New Zealand—to fresh green vegetables, and dairy products which are among the world's best.''

Mr Anderson has been engaged in tourist transportation for a number of years, and he states that he is amazed with the many wonderful things which New Zealand has to display to travellers. He states that the hotels could bear improvement, in some places, but that would come in time. "The general perspective of the New Zealander," he said, "is too close to allow him a full appreciation of the wonder of his own country," said Mr Anderson. "For instance, the New Zealand afforestation scheme puts Amorica to 'shame. When we saw the vast tracts of high-class timber, we asked ourselves if we,- in the States, were asleep." Interesting Personalities. Two of the members of the party control the production of a well-known brand of oranges, and they have large citrus interests. They are Mr Robert B. Harper, of Gardena, California, una Mr James E. Shaw* Mr Harper is accompanied by his wife. Miss Isabel Hower, of Akron, Ohio, holds the distinguished position qt bank examiner. Miss Frances Stevens, of San Francisco, is an art student, her father being interested in large stock and bond houses. Mr and Mrs W. F. Adams come from Hollywood, California, and' Mr .Adams is a retired Detroit business man. Mrs F. S. Eobinson, of Minneapolis, spends her life in travelling the world, and is qualified to discourse upon the features of almost any land on the globe. Mr Adolph Mack, of San Francisco, is president of the Imperial Oil Company. He is accompanied by his wife. Mr and Mrs E. A. Eastman hail from Long Beach, California, and Mr Eastman is the owner of several big Californian hotels. He is making a special study of New Zealand hotel accommodation in relation tp Californian resorts. It is interesting to note that the financial arrangements for the tour consist of a flat rate, which covers everything except personal tips to room stewards, porters, etc.