Americans Think N.Z. Tour “Great Success”

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29766, 8 March 1962, Page 17

Americans Think N.Z. Tour “Great Success”

"We have had a wonderful time, and of all the tours we have had anywhere in the last 25 years this has been the most successful,” said Mr J. Chohlis, the leader of a party of 79 American cattle ranchers at present visiting Christchurch, at the end of a 17-day tour of New Zealand.

Mr Chohlis is the editor of the “Western Livestock Journal” of California, the magazine which organised the tour. Among the tourists, who include about 27 married couples, are persons from 16 States and also from Canada. The magazine has previously organised tours inside the United States, but this is the first time a tour has gone to another country. Last year Mr Chohlis and one of the tour directors, Mr L. Stevens, came to New Zealand to map out an itinerary, which included Auckland, Te Kuiti, Waitomo, Wairakei, Rotorua, Hamilton, Wanganui, Feilding, Palmerston North, Dannevirke, Masterton, Wellington, Invercargill, Milford Sound, Te Anau, and Christchurch. Visits to Farms The main purpose of the tour, which was arranged in conjunction with the Government Tourist Bureau, was to visit New Zealand livestock farms, which enjoyed a world-wide reputation as the best there were, said Mr Chohlis. The farms had impressed the party very much, as had the considerable all-round knowledge of the farmers, but what had been outstanding was the friendliness of the people. “The highlight was the people themselves.” Most of the party came to New Zealand by way of Hawaii, where some of the original number returned to the United States and others joined. After leaving New Zealand the party will go to Sydney for two weeks, and visit Australian stations. Some will visit the East before returning to the United States, and others will return direct.

Christchurch gardens had particularly impressed the tourists, said Mr Chohlis. “The ladies screamed with delight coming from the airport in the bus when they saw those beautiful flower gardens in front of all the houses.

The thing that has stood out all along has been the pride of the women here in their gardens,” he said. Shopping in City

Today some of the women in the party would go shopping in Christchurch, said Mr Chohlis. It would be about their first chance to do this since landing in New Zealand. “I guess Christchurch will get most of their money.” Everyone in the tour had had a wonderful time and there were absolutely no complaints. Several had expressed their intention of returning, some to buy livestock, some to try to buy land, and at least one couple would return to fish. The Government Tourist Bureau had done a magnificent job in assisting with the tour, and the party was absolutely delighted with the reception given by the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) in the North Island.

“We hope to bring another party here in two or three years,” said Mr Chohlis. “This has been a great success.”