SOUTH ISLAND’S ALPS

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25859, 19 July 1949, Page 3

SOUTH ISLAND’S ALPS

SWISS VISITOR’S IMPRESSIONS (New Zealand. Press Association.) AUCKLAND, July 18. The glaciers and mountains "of the South Island outstrip the Swiss Alps, in the opinion of Mr Hans Vogt, a Swiss company director, who has Fpem three weeks in the Dominion Mr Vogt is making a world tour, so that he can make worth-while recommendations on the countries he has teen to Swiss people who wish to emgrate. Already he has visited the United States. Japan. Hong Kong, the Philippines, India. Batavia, and Australia. He left by air for Australia this morning. _Mr Vogt has definite ideas about New Zealand's attractions, and some simple suggestions about how they could be improved. The following is a precis of what he has to say about New Zealand and its people:— Hotels.—They are better than the reputation they have abroad. I heard Americans and others who have been here say that they are rotten, but I found the service high class and friendly, the meals well prepared, with plenty of choice, the bedrooms clean and comfortable and. above all, hot water coming through the hot water taps. But in some reputable hotels the waitresses have only one menu card. Why not have menus on each table in every hotel? Immigration Laws. —This fingerprint business you have to go through at the police station makes you feel like a criminal. The form you have to fill in about obeying the laws of the country seems entirely unnecessary. The People.—Thev are among the tt-osi friendly in the world, and it is a pleasure to move about among them. The bus drivers are excellent and go cut of their way to explain things. The Drinking Laws.- —Ah. yes. They ere not too good. It makes life at a tourist resort very dull Take Rotorua. There is no place to go at night except for a swim, and the baths close too early. However. Mr Vogt is certain New Zealand has the greatest attractions of any land he has seen, and he will recommend the Dominion to wouldbe immigrants.