N.Z. TOURIST INDUSTRY

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29102, 14 January 1960, Page 13

N.Z. TOURIST INDUSTRY

High-Cost Hotels Criticised

“Some people seem to think New Zealand should join the Australian Federation. I have definite views on that,” said Mr E. O. Mousley, internationally known lawyer and author, who is visiting Christchurch. “I do not think the time is ripe for the Dominion of New Zealand to be embodied in the Australian Commonwealth politically, but it is over-ripe for co-operation in other aspects. New Zealand is missing the benefits which ought to redound to it by being next door to Australia.

“Take tourism,” said Mr Mousley. “I do not think it can be handled at the moment by the government. The tourist industry is most valuable to all countries which have anything to show because of its ready return of cash. The circulation of money is felt immediately.” He said he thought New Zealand had been left behind because of the great distances. “You have got to decide what people you want to attract here. If tourists get as far as India and Ceylon they can be induced to go on to Australia. Having got them to Australia I am quite sure they could be attracted to New Zealand,” he said. As far as natural features went it would be hard to beat New Zealand. But visitors wanted more than just sightseeing. New Zealand did not have the evidence of human life and endeavour carried out from generation to generation as in Britain and Europe where buildings and countryside speak of a civilisation that has been, is and will be.” In New Zealand, as far as he could see, very great sums of money had been spent on what one might almost call futurist layouts of very inferior quality. “Colossal” Charge

Mr Mousley said he had just been to the Hermitage where dinner, a good single room, with a view of the mountains and breakfast cost £4 10s. That was colossal. For what you get for it, it is higher than any other place in the world,” he said. He understood that the Hermitage had shown a heavy loss so far. The place was chiefly of use to alpinists and his criticism was that Mount Cook was New Zealand’s first mountain but New Zealanders in general could not afford to go near the place. He found that those going there were rich Australians or Americans or New Zealanders who went just to say they had seen the hotel. At the Hermitage there were only 11 single rooms. Nine out of 10 people who went there stayed only one night.

Milford Sound was even worse. The hotel was built on ultramodern lines and catered for elderly people or those who had nothing more to do than throw their money about. Such places did not cater for the young people who wanted to put in a few days. The young and the middle-aged got nothing out of such places. Mr Mousley suggested that the tourist industry be run by a public corporation and not by a government department. Visitors wanted to see the sights but they also wanted some comfort. The aim should be to cater for the local demand and that from Australia. There could be special amenities for the wealthy who could afford them and desired them. “Don’t build in places where people will stay for only one night,” said Mr Mousley. There was a very big movement in Australia for the country to go further and further into secondary industries. There would be terrific expansion but the way they were going about it was suspect. Industries must be prepared to compete with the rest of the world or die,” said Mr Mousley. Australia and New Zealand should get together on such things as exchange, shipping and oil.