SOUTH’S ATTRACTIONS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 254, 23 July 1936, Page 11

SOUTH’S ATTRACTIONS

Formation of Travel Association WIDER PUBLICITY DESIRED By Telegraph—Press Association. Uliristcliureh, July 22. The desire of the South Island to give wider publicity to its many tourist attractions and to make sure that tourist facilities are developed along adequate and progressive lines was strikingly exemplified this morning when nearly 100 delegates representing public bodies and private organisations from Nelson to Stewart Island met to consider the formation of a South Island Travel and Development Association.

The conference was convened by the Lyttelton Harbour Board, and the board’s chairman, Mr. W. K. McAlpine, presided. The delegates represented harbour boards, city, borough and county councils, Government and private passenger services, progress and development leagues, and hotels and other interests.

“W.e do not wish to be parochial or to take a restricted view,” said Mr. McAlpine, “but if we are to have any degree of success in the development of our tourist traffic we must remember that the North and South Islands are separated by Cook Strait.”. The first motion before the conference was that a South Island Travel Association should be formed In moving to that effect, Mr. H. H Sterling, of Wellington, said that the keynote of all successful efforts the speaker had seen in his tour abroad was organisation. Organisation was being carried out on a national basis right throughout the world generally with the people concerned making financial contributions subsidised to a degree by the Government.

“We are not going to get the best out of our tourist traffic until we organise on a national basis.” said Mr. Sterling. “While I think we should go ahead with this organisation, we should always keep in mind a national basis. A competitive outlook purely in respect to the North Island is not to be encouraged. There have beeen difficulties, not due to any North Island animosity, and what strikes me as the crux of the problem is the need of a round journey by the very situation of the South Island. There is a necessity for a local organisation as well as a national outlook.”

It wag unanimously decided to form a South Island Travel Association.

LICENSING LAWS

Amendment to be Sought By Telegraph—Press Association Christchurch, July 22. One of the first acts of the new South Island of New Zealand Travel Association will be to ask the Government to amend the licensing laws to enable the proprietors of tourist houses in the Dominion to obtain licences to sell liquor. A remit to this effect approved by the Travel Association tonight stated that experience showed that catering for tourist traffic in New Zealand could not be successful unless guests could be supplied with refreshments such as were obtainable in similar establishments in other countries. The discussion extended to an advocacy of a review of the whole licensing system, which speakers condemned as prehistoric and out of date.

The” chairman, Mr. W. K. McAlpine, said: “I am not giving away any secrets when I say this matter is on paper for consideration. I think if you approached the Government to-day it would see it in a proper light.” It was stated by others at the conference that their request should be only to sell- liquor to boarders.