PUBLICITY WORK

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 5, 1 October 1929, Page 10

PUBLICITY WORK

. A POSSIBLE CHANGE The question of amalgamating the Government Publicity Office and the Department of Tourist and Health Resorts is revived by the necessity that has arisen for the appointment of a new general manager to the latter.

Before the session commenced there was foundation for the belief that proposals were to come before Cabinet for the complete co-ordination under the one Department of both local and oversea publicity activities, but no definite action was taken. Recently, however, an alteration was made In the Ministerial control of the Publicity Office, the Minister of Railways (Hon. W. B. Taverner) handing over to the Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle). The reason advanced for the transfer was that experience had shown that publicity work appertained more to the realm of Internal Affairs. Suggestions are now current that before appointing a successor to the late Mr. B. M. Wilson, as General Manager of the Tourist Department, the Prime Minister will probably explore the possibilities of linking up the two services under the title of the Tourist and Publicity Department. Sir Joseph Ward himself is Minister in Charge of the Department of Tourist and Health Resorts. and if n change is to be made in the direction Indicated, it will, presumably, be necessary for him to transfer this portfolio to the Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle.

The proposed alteration has often been advocated Inside and outside the House for the reasons that the placing of publicity work under the one administration would prevent overlapping, ensure the best treatment possible for the oversea tourist on his arrival here, and effect a considerable financial saving.