WORK FOR ALL

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 64, 12 September 1924, Page 6

WORK FOR ALL

There appears to have been an impression in the minds of both the Prime Minister and Mr. Anderson that the Chamber of Commercedeputation yesterday desired chiefly to criticise -the Government and its publicity efforts. In consequence, their replies were mainly a defence of the work done; or perhaps Mr. Anderson's was a counter-attack. The opportunity for encouraging the Chamber to continue its publicity work was largely lost, and it is not surprising that members are disappointed with the result. Certainly the Ministers were right in letting it be known : that the Government has not been idle. There are many people who have not the least idea of the magnitude of the publicity task or the. amount of workHhat must be done before any. impression can be made. They see the publicity work done by America and Canada, and they forget that this is the joint product of State and private , enterprise—shipping companies, hotels, town advancement associations, and tourist agencies—involving a huge expenditure.

Not only is there,great expenditure behind this American publicity, but there ■is also, long experience. Publicity is a business in itself and calls for careful study and training. The Government has done well in establishing a Publicity Office, which has certainly aroused the interest of ' /private Ken and organisations. The time is opportune to strengthen that office so that it may direct and guide the private effort which is now becoming available to aid the campaign. We certainly cannot l'dd that the Government should do all the work and spend all the money; That would mean that private enterprise would reap the benefit without sharing the cost. Such a method would not make private enterprise careful of ythe tourist business which the Government expenditure .brought. But there must be a lead and a central authority, and a strengthened Publicity Office would serve this purpose. The advantage gained by thus co-ordinating private effort such as the Chamber of Commerce is prepared to give would more than repay the1 cost.