SOUTH ISLAND PUBLICITY

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25245, 25 July 1947, Page 5

SOUTH ISLAND PUBLICITY

MEETING CALLED BY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE An analysis made by the Tourist and Publicity Departmert had shown that, on a four-day basis, covering a year, there had been 11,900 tours through the North Island, 11.800 through the South Island, and 6900 through the whole of New Zealand, said Mr F. G. K. Gilchrist, secretary of the South Island Local Bodies’ Association, yesterday. Mr Gilchrist was commenting on a circular sent out by the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce appealing for an all-out effort to improve overseas publicity for the South Island. The Chamber of Commerce has called a meeting of interested local bodies and other organisations to discuss the situation. The meeting will be held on Tuesday. Mr Gilchrist said that a few months ago he had discussed tourist publicity with the general manager of the Tourist and Publicity Department (Mr L. J. Schmitt), who had said that the shortage of art paper had complicated the supply of new tourist literature. Mr Schmitt had been emphatic that he had no bias in favour of the North Island, Mr Gilchrist said. If there was any bias at all, it was in favour of the South Island, which had more major scenic attractions. The serious lack of accommodation in the South Island and the fact that the main overseas termini for shipping and air services were at Auckland were mentioned by Mr Schmitt. In cases where tourists had only a limited time at their disposal, it might be possible for them to visit only those parts of the country nearest the termini.