THE FAVOURED ISLAND
PUBLICITY ABROAD
NEGLECTED SOUTH
(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.")
DTJNEDIN, This Day.
Miss M. M'Farlane, a young Bunedin lady, who has always taken a great interest in education and in business, has returned from a world tour with very definite impressions on her mind regarding New Zealand's publicity and its shortcomings. In the first place she was dismayed and astounded at the ignorance which she found to prevail in America concerning New Zealand and its people. For this unhappy state of affairs, however, American education appeared "in a large measure to be to blame. Secondly she was occasioned further indignation and astonishment when she learned that what publicity was being given her native land was issued solely ■in the interests of the North Island. The newspaper clippings which she pro&ced proved only too conclusively that her information was perfectly correct.
"How much longer is this kind of thing to be tolerated?" she asked. "Is it not time that the Government and its agents realised that the secret of New Zealand's popularity with.tourists lies in the infinite variety of the attractions which New Zealand isles treated as one embrace? Undoubtedly the country's greatest appeal springs from the complete contrast between the North and South, the thermal regions on ths one hand and the lake and mountain scenery on 1 the other, each having a characteristic sport to offer. Therefore, for the sake of the North Island as well as of the South there must be no further neglect of the scenic wonders of this island and of Stewart Island.
"The prevailing idea in America is that New York is the centre of the world. One gathered that every vital aspect of the world's advancement hovered around it. Moreover, I found the standard of education in the United States to be very poor. I have a cousin there who has passed an examination equivalent to ■ our. matriculation, and imagine my. surprise when, just before my departure for Glasgow from New York, she asked me if Scotland had a king. Another question asked by her was, 'Was New Zealand in the Great War?', At first I thought she was joking, but not a bit of it. .History in that country is simply tho history of the United, States, and the' result is that they are becoming, a self-satisfied race. They know all about their own President? and their civil warfare, but that is about all. Then, again,. the schools seem to be quite ,undisciplined. The pupils are allowed to choose the subjects they fancy. Now they are reaching the stage where they abuse their freedom to such an extent that it is a matter of the children striving to run their parents rather than vice versa. Nowhere, not even in the British Isles,- have I seen, schools to equal our own State schools."
Coming to her criticism of. publicity methods, the. traveller stated that during her visit to London she saw nothing but North Island attractions advertised at the High Commissioner's Office. Of course it was quite possible that, the displays might be varied from time to time, but nevertheless during her four •weeks in the Metropolis she saw nothing and heard nothing of the" places outside Eotorua, Taupo, Wairakei,'and other North Island.resorts. This was a great pity, for the South "Island had some of the finest scenery in the world, and when combined with the North Island attractions it meant that Jse\v Zealand had everything to offer- — an irresistible, draw-card.- Tlie 'vfsw Zealand Office was an excellent place at which to secure information.
However, it was while in Sydney that Miss M'Parlane was given a further taste of the North Island 1 advertising fetish. From one issue of a leading Sydney daily newspaper she clipped fully half a ■ column of advertising.matter, which, after; hailing New Zealand as an ideal place for a holiday, extolled the weird thermal regions and made no mention whatever of the scenic beauties of ■ the South. For this advertisement the. New Zealand Government officers were solely responsible, but there was another part which stated: "In- response to many requests,' a personally-conducted tour of the North Island of New Zealand is at present being organised by the Australian Travel Service Pty. Ltd., in conjunction with the New Zealand Government Tourist Department." Then followed an itinerary exclusively limited to the North Island.
"As a matter of fact, the' majority of the places mentioned could not possibly make such an appeal to the average Australian as the alpine glories of the South," she said. "One feels impelled to ask the question, 'Who has been filling the Australians up with all this North Island boost?' "
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19290115.2.45
Bibliographic details
Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 12, 15 January 1929, Page 8
Word Count
778THE FAVOURED ISLAND Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 12, 15 January 1929, Page 8
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