THE TOURIST DEPARTMENT

Evening Star, Issue 18716, 19 August 1924, Page 7

THE TOURIST DEPARTMENT

MR HAWKE’S, COMPLAINT, A MATTER OF POLICY. [Special to the ‘ Stab.’] CHRISTCHURCH, August 18. The charge made by Mr J. S. Hawkes (president of tho South Island Motor Union) against tho Tourist Department that the department is working in the interests of the motor services was mentioned in tho House of Representatives, and was denied by Mr Nosworthy (Minister in charge of the department). Asked to-day whether he intended taking the matter -further, Air Hawkes said he certainly intended doing so. He had received more than one complaint during tho time he had been organising secretary of the Canterbury Automobile Association by motorists who had been advised by the department’s officers not to travel to certain scenic resorts by private cars on account of tho rough nature of the trip. “My complaint against the Tourist Office in not a persona] matter,” said Mr Hawkes, “it is a matter of policy. I am quite certain that the Government is not alive to the possibilities of the tourist traffic. We are tired of being told by American visitors that we are 100 modest about our little country. It is always tho same story. The overseas visitors are charmed with the country and its scenic resorts, some of which are unequalled in any other part of the world. They tell us that if the wonders of New Zealand were known abroad hundreds of wealthy tourists would come here. Think what it would mean if only a thousand tourists visited tho dominion every year? At a very conservative estimate each would spend £loo—that means £IOO,OOO would be left in tho country annually. That, of course, is an absurdly low estimate of the number of tourists who could bo brought here by proper publicity methods, but is that going to be brought about if wo discourage tho tourists from using their private cars ? 1 have been told myself lay an officer of the Tourist Department that the roads of New Zealand wore not suitable for motor tours. I was astounded at such a statement. There are certainly bad roads in parts of the North Island, but they do not preclude travelling by ear, and there are hundreds of miles of quite good roads."

“ lu tho South Island there, are country roads as good as any yon could hope to get in any part of the world. All the roads are not good in America, For instance, once you get off the main highway there you may meet with some appalling roads, in rny capacity as organising secretary of (lio C.A.A. I meet many American tourists, and they promise to come back or advise their friends to come here. My association is in touch with some of the biggest private motorists’ organisations in the States, and we supply those bodies with literature and views, and ask them to tell their members about this country. Wo offer to correspond with anyone contemplating a trip, and place our knowledge and cxperiefico at their disposal, and wo have had numerous inquiries and many visitors have come here as tho result. Wo map out a tour for them eo that they can travel the, whole length of tho dominion without going over the same ground twice, and advise them as (o fishing and shooting district, the scenic beauties, health resorts, and so on. In addition to all that vvo give information regarding the roads and tho class of car best sailed to their means, and tho local conditions, and how to arrange transport of their cars or the purchase of cars out here. I think it will be admitted that tho association is doing a very real service, and if it criticises a department, which threatens to nullify its work by pouring cold water on the enthusiasm of would-be motor tourists, it does so in tho best interests of everybody concerned, and not with tho idea of trying to thrive at the expense of the official Tourist Bureau. Wo desire nothing more than to work hand in hand with tho department.”