Coast Disappointed At Royal Itinerary

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29931, 19 September 1962, Page 14

Coast Disappointed At Royal Itinerary

(From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, September 18. Exception to the details of the Royal tour released today is being taken by political and local body representatives in many parts of New Zealand as towns on the west coasts of both islands, have been left out of the tour. .

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip will not go further south than Dunedin. They will not see Invercargill or Bluff, and will not visit Westport, Greymouth, New Plymouth or Wanganui‘The decision to omit the west coast areas is a great shock to us,” said Mr G. A. Spooner (Opposition, Wanganui) tonight. “We believe these are the greatest areas of potential tourist attraction in this country. It is an extraordinary thing that the Royal couple, who once spoke of coming back to New Zealand for an informal tour, have chosen to visit all the main cities again." When the Royal couple were in New Zealand in 1953, they made a special trip by train to Wanganui and New Plymouth. Plans were in hand to take Prince Philip into the Upper Wanganui river by jet-boat for a hunting trip and a ball in Wanganui was also planned.

Residents of the West Coast in the South Island say the area has incomparable scenery, and that it is not difficult of access in this age.

Nevertheless it has been dropped out in favour of areas which are always visited.

The only glimpse of the West Coast the Royal couple will have will be when they fly over it on the morning of February 18 on their way from Christchurch to Australia-

The Acting-Prime Minister (Mr Hanan) would make no further comment tonight about the "strong representations” he has made to the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) in London about the itinerary. But it is understood that he is deeply concerned, as member of Parliament for Invercargill, about the termination of the southern part of the tour at Dunedin. (Tour details Page 8)