TRAVEL NUISANCES

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 55, 3 September 1934, Page 11

TRAVEL NUISANCES

"FRIENDLY DOSE OF OIL"

CALIFORNIA'S ADVICE

What he described as a "friendly doso ot' castor oil 3' was givon to members of tho Auckland Travel Clu'u by Mr. E. Gladney, a resident of San Francisco, when ho spoke on "Little Things that Annoy the Traveller," the "Star" reports.

At the outset Mr. Gladuey made it clear that ho was no an American wishing to criticise something British. He was, ho said, a Britisher, but it was his belief that if tho "other fellow's" methods wero bettor, they should bo adopted. Every country today wanted travellers, and it was important hat they should make a 'strong bid for tourist traffic. Tho traveller brought now money into a country, and usually spent freely. He mentioned that in San Francisco Finland had beautiful modern poster displays, but that the intending visitor to Now Zealand in search of information could obtain from an obscure offlco only a few out-of-date booklets. Hugo sums of money were spent in the United States in attracting tourists and in keeping tho Americans' at ■ home. '' You must first attract the tourist by the natural advantages you have to offer, and then, having attracted him, you must receive him in a suitable manner," said the speaker. "Ho is bound to compare his reception in your country with his reception in other countries, and if that comparison is to your disadvantage you will undoubtedly suffer." A traveller, continued the speaker, would remember petty nuisances -.long after he had forgotten the many beautiful things he had seen. Tho average traveller was likely" to be critical and perhaps a little unreasonable, especially the person who had carefully saved up for a trip and regarded it as tho big event in his or her life.

A nuisance that could bo avoided was discourteous officials, although that nuisajice today was not nearly as j bad as it used to be. "in New Zea-1 land I have, probably received more courteous treatment from officials than' anywhere else in the world," ho said. THROUGH THE DIP AT WELLINGTON. "It would bo hard to say how many thousands' of tourists have been strangled to death by miles of red tape,'' said Mr. Gladney, in referring to . tho. nuisance of execessive official dom. "Red. tape causes the average tourist a great deal Of annoyance. Tl> enforcement of the .immigration laws is very necessary, but. unfortunajtoly the genuine tourist finds himself caught up in the tangle, and is put to a-great deal of trouble.- It also should not. be necessary for passengers to line up on a cold, windy day and wait for 45 minutes' before walking past the port medical officer, like sheep going through a dip, as we had to do at Wellington. That is a niusanee, I think, that could bo well cut out by the port doctor taking the word of the ship's doctor that everything is all right." i ■ "I think it is tho worst of the civilised countries in the world," said Mr. Gladney, in referring to the New Zealand system of handling tourists' baggage. After detailing ithe many inconveniences suffered by him in getting away from the ship and getting his luggage into the hands of the Railway Department officials', ho commended the splendid service- provided by tie American Railway Express Company, which, ho said, was spreading to England and othpr countries.

New Zealanders, h» concluded, should advertise th'oir country in tho right way, and should be perfectly frank in all their statements concerning costs. In addition, tho employees of all -0111----panies catering for travellers s' ould adopt a friendly and helpful aHitudo towards their visitors, and there should be co-ordination of all services patronised by visitors from overseas. - - ' ■