TOURIST TRADE

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21436, 30 March 1935, Page 14

TOURIST TRADE

CONTROL BY BOARD SOUGHT MORE REPRESENTATIONS TO GOVERNMENT Further representations are to be made to the Government to establish a board to control tourist traffic in the Dominion and to advertise the scenic attractions of the country. This was decided yesterday afternoon at a joint meeting of the tourist and publicity committees of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce and the Canterbury Progress League. In August of last year a conference was held in Wellington, attended by bodies throughout the Dominion interested in the fostering of the tourist traffic, and the Government was then urged to establish a board to take over the control of the trade from the Tourist Office. Mr F. W. Hobbs, who presided, said that New Zealand offered a marvellous opportunity to attract tourists, and the traffic should be one of the chief sources of revenue. No Attack on Department Mr G. F. Allen, who was one of the delegates at the conference last August, said that the arguments at that meeting in favour of the establishment of a board were most convincing. All present realised the inestimable value of the tourist traffic to New Zealand. While there was no attack on the Tourist Department it was stated that the department would,, under a board, be free from certain restrictions. Mr Allen said that the reply of the Minister in charge of (he department, the Hon. Adam Hamilton, was such that he had left the meeting well pleased. If had therefore been very disappointing that nothing had been done by the Minister since. Mr Allen moved:"That this joint meeting of the Chamber of Commerce and Canterbury Progress League's tourist and publicity committees express keen disappointment that no decision has yet In en announced by the Government respecting the establishment of a Tourist and Publicity Board as recommended by ihe Dominion conference convened by Ihe Government and held in Wellington last August." The motion was seconded by Mr G. Magmness. Unanimity of Opinion Mr T. M. Charters said there was no doubt about the feeling of the meeting in Wellington. The Minister made it quite clear that the wishes of the conference so strongly expressed, would merit the careful consideration of the Government. That nothing had been done since was a keen disappointment, he felt sure, to every body concerned. The motion was carried unanimously. The following motion was also carried unanimously - "That this meeting requests the committee appointed by the conference in August last to convene as soon as possible another Dominion conference of those interested in order that, a representative deputation may be arranged to urge upon the Government the necessity for early and decisive action." Mr W. J. Boyce. the mover, said there was no other source of revenue the Government could tap more effectively and more cheaply than that provided by tourist traffic. Air Charters, in seconding the motion. said it was both timely and necessary for such a resolution to be passed. Both resolutions will be sent, to Wellington.