Strong Protests About Tourist Dept. Brochure

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30234, 12 September 1963, Page 16

Strong Protests About Tourist Dept. Brochure

Strong protests about the Tourist and Publicity Department brochure publicising fishing resorts in Canterbury were made last evening by a member of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society. Mr G. Ferris, who claimed that the brochure contained “a lot of tripe.” and had wrongfully acknowledged that it had been compiled by Mr C. A. Voss, in conjunction with himself, and the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society.

At a meeting of the society Mr Ferris said he could "not really believe it” when he saw the brochure. He had been approached by an official of the department, who

had submitted a list of fishing lakes in the society's district. Mr Ferris raid he had been asked by the official to suggest any other lakes that might have been omitted from the list, which was for inclusion in a publicity brochure. Mr Ferris said he had nof discussed anything about the brochure. He had been very upset, and a great number of people had asked him why he had "put all this tripe in the pamphlet." Mr Ferris said he had approached the Tourist and Publicity Department in Christchurch after the brochure's publication, asking for its withdrawal and had been advised to write to toe Wellington office. He raid he told the Wellington office that he looked with great disfavour on the * use of his and the society's name in the brochure. A reply had not yet been received. “It is absolutely ridiculous for responsible people to put out these stupid things. I intend to pursue it to the bitter end.” said Mr Ferris. The society decided to await the department's reply to letter before taking further action.