PRAISE FOR THE DOMINION

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22304, 19 January 1938, Page 8

PRAISE FOR THE DOMINION

* GREAT POSSIBILITIES FOR tourists I HIGH STANDARD OF NEWSPAPERS “New Zealand, particularly the South Island, has ‘got the goods’,” said Mr F. A. Ritson, a chartered accountant from Aberdeen, who passed through Christchurch yesterday. Mr Ritson, who has been in many countries of the world and in all the major British Dominions, said that there were great possibilities for tourists in New Zealand and a chance for great development in catering for them. When he decided to visit New Zealand Mr Ritson got into touch with the High Commissioner s Office in London, and by return post received a month’s itinerary mapped out for him, including even the times his trains and service cars would leave. “I have been more struck by ttic high lone and dignity of the newspapers in New Zealand, both morning and evening, than by those of any other British country I have visited, he said. “There is nothing of the sensational cheapness that is so quenlly found. Your shops copy those of the United States to a certain degree. but your newspapers do not. They remind me of the ‘Glasgow Herald’ or the ‘Scotsman. They are of great value, and I have been impressed with the special articles. Explaining that it was not becaus he was an Aberdonian, Mr Ritson said he was glad to find that tipping was practically abolished in New Zealand and that the dignity of labour was recognised. It 1 was a great advantage to travellers. „ , , The way in which full advantage had been taken of the beauty oi natural surroundings in the cities had impressed him, and he mentioned the reservation of the town belt mostly of bush, at Dunedin. Art and utility had been brought together, and though water towers were not usually attractive structures, he had noticed that the many he had seen in the North Island were quite ornamental.