"SWANK" IN TRAVEL

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 26, 1 February 1932, Page 3

"SWANK" IN TRAVEL

TOO MANY FRILLS

Reasonable comfort in transport and accommodation, rather than "frills and ostentatious luxury, was the- need of the day, declared Mr. M, Cohen tvhen giving a survey of his three years' tour of the world at last week's luncheon of. the Wellington Travel Men's League, A-ii extension of the one-class steamer^' idea, ho suggested, would eneourago. more people to travel: . Many peoplo could not afford first saloon rates and, having the inferiority complex, they preferred to stop at home if they could not travel first-class. ■-•■■■..

"In travelling in many countries I found there was competition-to make things too ostentatious," Jsaid Mr. Cohen. "There is a mad rush for luxury, but wo should dispense frith those things which ' nobody really; Wants, and with the long menu through which nobody eats. It is not travel that costs the money, it is 'swank.' Via should, cut out all . this gilt and ginger business."

Travel facilities in Italy were praised by Mr. Cohen, who'said that Mussolini was awake to the • tourist business; He- regarded Mussolini as one of tha greatest men that the century has produced. Luggage troubles on the Continent, however, came as a shock to New- Zealanders accustomed to"'efficient handling of their tagage:, ."Unless you can carry your baggage 'on the Continent you are in for trouble,',' said Mr. Cohen. • '.'Your Juggage .will have, to pass through numerous hands, and you have to pay them all. The result is that your baggage will probably take tlirce weeks to get from " Rome to Northern Europe."

Mr. Cohen remarked on the hugs business being done in air travel,'.but pointed rout that the airlines ,had still their luggage troubles." The aeroplane passenger had. to-'travel very flight." There was little trouble hotv ,af regards the language difficulty... Officials on the Continent to a.large extent now talked English. Even sm aH Dutch .children would approach tourists' and offer wares in very reasonable English. "I, addressed, a meeting mi. "Vienna, and quite 75 per cent. of. my audience knew my language," said Mr. Cohen. . "You can.iniagine what a different matter it. would be if a foreign visitor spoke to a gathering in New Zealand- in. Ms. twn tongue.' 1 . .