CENTENNIAL SPORTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 6, 7 July 1938, Page 6

CENTENNIAL SPORTS

SOUTH ISLAND YIEWi

THE TOURIST ASPECT

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) ] CHRISTCHURCH, July 6. ' "It is futile to blame Auckland fo» seeking to secure the,..- Centennial sports gathering in 1940 ■ «&r itself," said Mr. J. W. Pollard, director of the South Islands Travel ,Asspeisrtion today, >'but we will blaiife-o^tselves if wo do' n9thing about it. "Wellington has?tfce%ltxtabjsoa and if the sports gathering -is :% < -4? Pc made part of the Exhibition attractions there is no argument for, Auckland's claim, but if this «ports \gathering is not to be held in^ Wellington, then, clearly, if we are thinking; of, the Dominion as a whole, it shcwrli^be held in the South Island. '{-V S$ ' "South Islanders do onjcft, }^i>ear to realise that i;he Exhibition in'Welling-' ton presents an opportunity to^Jevelop a greater measure of travel-/^in the South Island, but this will W lost unless there is a definite and^ppwerful move to offset the *puIT to Auckland on people already in the Ndrtlx Island, If the sports gathering, goessttf Auck* land there will be an increase] in the strength of this 'pull' to the north and the South Island wiH w7r su*er. The policy of the South" Island.should be that if the-Centennial games are not to be-held in Wellington they., should be held in the South Island: >- "The* opportunities offere&;,b.y the Exhibition can be exploited " ,s>y the South Island if, in' the midst'of thei South Island provincial courts, there is a definite South Island unit working to 'sell' travel in the South Island among those who visit the courts. Unless something can be done through a South Island body like the Travel Association/ visitors will admire the individual displays and yet fail to make up their minds to travel,' because the cumulative effect, of the courts will | not be driven home. On this question of monopolies raised by the Auckland .committee one might say that Aucki land already has a strong enough' hold on tourist traffic by virtue of its geographic position, and the putting of extra Centennial attractions in Aucki land will increase, the 'pull' away from ithe South Island. , t% ... "At" the "same 'time',3V,e 'should consider also the possibilities in the visit of the Australian returned soldiers and ensure that the South. Island is not overlooked. Wellington wiUhave a big accommodation problem,.and the more we can do to induce people to travel about the Dominion after seeinjg or before seeing the Exhibition the better for everybody concerned." ■