AMUSING ERRORS

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 54, 28 November 1923, Page 12

AMUSING ERRORS

“NEW ZEALAND IN AUSTRALIA”

Some specific instances showing the need for a wide advertising campaign in the interests of New Zealand were quoted to a “Herald” reporter by Air. H. O. Wiles, of Auckland, who returned by the R.AI.S. Alakura, after a four months’ visit to the United States. Air. Wiles said that as near as Suva the principal hotels had views of the mountains of America, but there was nothing to show that the Southern Alps were so near at hand. In the United States, even the offices of some of the shipping companies were unable to give reliable information. One passenger by the Alakura went to the shipping office in Cleveland and asked to be booked to Auckland. He was told! he would have to go to Sydney as the nearest port, and was given a return ticket by a direct American steamer to Sydney at a charge of ICO dollars more than the trip to New Zealand would cost. This, however, was rectified on the Pacific Coast. Of two exporters wit!? whom Air. Wiles conversed one thought New Zealand was off the coast of Scotland, while the other imagined that, it was somewhere near Java. Air. .Wiles also had. the experience of endeavouring to have a cablegram sent to Auckland. The operator insisted! that New Zealand was in Australia, and Air. Wiles was at some pains to explain that Australia was an island off the coast of New Zealand before he could convince the operator that the message should be sent direct. As a small contribution towards the desired propaganda. Air. Wiles has arranged to have views of the Southern Alps and other attractions hung at. the University of California and Alichigan University, Chicago, as well as at a number of prominent hotels in the United States.