PUBLICITY NEEDED

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 97, 21 October 1935, Page 10

PUBLICITY NEEDED

DOMINION OVERSEAS

"WILL HAVE TO WAKE UP"

After having been overseas for eighteen months, Mr. L. T. Watkins, of Wellington, who returned recently with Mrs. Watkins and Mr. L. E. Watkins, is pleased to see New Zealand again. He is convinced that something more should be done to make the Dominion better known.

In the light of his experience, said Mr. Watkins to a "Post" reporter today, New Zealand seemed a kind of Rip Van Winkle country. To him it had been asleep for eighteen months, for during that time, apart from New Zealand papers and letters, he had heard hardly anything of the country. The visit of Mr. Forbes and Mr. Coates to London, where they had done their best, was even poorly reported. New Zealand would have to wake up—develop' an item of news weekly if necessary—or it would be forgotten in the important countries.

"If New Zealand is mentioned in conversation these days," said Mr. Watkins, "you are likely to hear, 'Oh, yes, that was an up-to-date country!' and it may even follow that a reference is made to our early social legislation, but little else. However, I'm happy to find New Zealand is still on the map, and really I have no doubt as to its future, socially and commercially."

, Mr. Watkins said he was pleased to notice'a distinct improvement in Wellington's skyline, and to read of the activities of the Beautifying Society. He particularly mentioned the,desirability of tree planting along the Hutt Road. Trees well-grown and pruned would help, .he said, to hide the extreme ugliness of the telegraph poles, and they would be no greater obstruction 'than the posts.