SOUTH ISLAND PUBLICITY

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26553, 16 October 1951, Page 3

SOUTH ISLAND PUBLICITY

NEW BOOKLET PLANNED

DISTRIBUTION OVERSEAS

Plans for extensive overseas publicity for the South Island of New Zealand were discussed at the annual meeting of the South Island Publicity Association in Christchurch yesterday. “A comprehensive booklet on the whole of the South Island is now being prepared, and will be distributed throughout the countries of the world as soon as possible,” said the president (MrG.C. Errington). “Until this publication was planned there were only three pamphlets on the South IslandMount Cook, Dunedin and Milford Sound—that have been distributed overseas, compared with 16 on the attractions and resources of the North Island.” Mr Errington said that the new booklet would show prospective immigrants that New Zealand did not end at Cook Strait and that the South Island was something more than just trees and rivers. It would have little commercial advertising, and there would be a foreword stating the case for the South Island and the amenities and attractions it offered to tourists and immigrants. “To attract the tourists we must meet them directly they come from either the plane or ship and give them firsthand information on the attractions and the immense possibilities of the South Island,’’ said Mr G. C. Beckett, South Island publicity officer in Auckland. “Also we must remember that a nu - ber of tourists have their itineraries made out before they arrive; therefore more and comprehensive pamphlets must be distributed overseas.”

The secretary (Miss E. M. Blackiston) outlined the different methods that had been used by the association in recent years, and others to be used in years to come. She said that specially written articles in newspapers, both overseas and in New Zealand, had proved successful; but were not in sufficient quantity. The magazine, “Journeys,” had proved popular, and had received quite a lot of publicity in the United States, Canada and Englands Clippings from” these magazines had been used in geography lessons in England and Australia. “Our main need is for financial assistance so that wg can put into effect the ideas that we know will produce results,” said Miss Blackiston. She suggested that as the South Island Local Bodies’ Association had pledged its support to a large scale publicity campaign on the South Island, each town should conduct a special appeal for raising funds. The following officers were elected: president, Mr Errington; vice-presi-dents. Messrs J. S. Hawkes and D. H. Cockbum; treasurer, Mr W. S. Mac Gibbon; secretary, Miss Blackiston; committee, Messrs L. M. Wright, W. A. Smith, A. W. Jones, J. A. Harley, E. C. Bathurst, J. L. Hay, A. T. Newman, F. W. Freeman, H. J. S. Mitchell and Sir Ernest Andrews.