More Young Persons Are Seeking Passports

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30880, 13 October 1965, Page 20

More Young Persons Are Seeking Passports

There has been a steady increase during the last 12 months in the number of people applying for passports at the Christchurch office of the Department of Internal Affairs. The district officer of the department, Mr C. J. Kite, said yesterday that the number of passports issued this year had increased by 10 per cent on last year. The Christchurch office handles applications for the whole of the South Island except Nelson and Marlborough. Last month, the department issued 315 passports, bringing the total for the year up to the end of September to 4031.

Mr Kite said there had been a greater demand from young persons, particularly girls. “Pacific island holidays are contributing largely to the increase in the number of passports issued,” he said.

Mr Kite said more persons sought passports when offseason travel rates were available for trips to Europe: Since 1956, when the department began issuing passports in Christchurch, the number of applicants had trebled.

Mr Kite advised persons wishing to travel overseas to get their passports long before they intended to leave New Zealand.

Many persons found themselves in difficulties by leaving their passports to the last minute. Some failed to obtain correct photographs and some persons under 21 did not have the written authority of their parents. Mr Kite said the department could issue passports to minors only with the Minister’s approval if parental consent had' not been obtained.