FOSTERING TOURIST TRAFFIC

Evening Star, Issue 20898, 15 September 1931, Page 5

FOSTERING TOURIST TRAFFIC

HARD BATTLE AGAINST DEPRESSION THE NEW SHIPPING SERVICE SOUTH ISLANDERS SHOULD BENEFIT “ Providing that the service is established on the lines set out in the Press, the proposed Duncdin-Mclbournc- shipping traffic should bo a means of inducing residents of the South Island to visit Australia, but there is no doubt that other shipping at the present time interested in New Zealand' travel to and from Australia are endeavouring to tlio best of their ability to eater for such business as is offering. But duo to the depression this service is .suffering as every other service is .suffering, and there is no doubt that the curtailment of services has been found necessary.'’ These opinions were expressed to a ‘Star’ reporter yesterday 'afternoon by Mr S. W. M. Stilling, representative in Now Zealand of. the Australian National Travel Association. Til's business, be stated, was to foster tourist traffic between Australia and New Zealand, as did Mr J. L. Schmitt as New Zealand Trade Commissioner and tourist officer stationed in Australia. 'The A.N.T.A. was representative of the Commonwealth Government Railways, the State Government Railways, tho State Government Tourist Bureau, ami shipping and commercial interests. Part of his duties was to create a hotter feeling between the Australians and the Now Zealanders. “It is anticipated as a result of the. increased shipping facilities now available that very shortly there will he a number of people coming to both Australia and Now Zealand as tourists,” continued Mr Stilling. “ Due to the same feeling existing between the two places, the representatives arc talking both countries to intending visitors.

“ Tho position-is very much easier in Australia, to-day. on account of the successful convei'sion of the mar loan, and indications arc that Australia is putting her house in order. Given a good season, all things being equal, the usual business may bo expected in a very short time.”

There mas a wrong impression prevalent in tho dominion that Australia mas not a good place lo_ visit at the present time. Ho mas trying to correct tin’s. Tho exchange rate being in favour of New. Zealand,-people from here were able to visit the other side and enjoy an exchange rate of £lB 10s for every £IOO spent. Visitors to Australia, would find no change in the services from the time mb on things were prosperous, and all services, without exception, were being maintained. “ Picture shows are being Idled to the doors nightly, and generally tho depression so far as pleasure is concerned is not as noticeable as one is led to believe hero- in tho dominion,” declared tho visitor.

lu 1929 Air Stilling made a .tour, ol: tho world for the purpose of studying tourists’ methods. Both New Zealand and Australia, so far as tourist resorts and facilities were concerned, compared very favourably with other countries, be thought. Of course, there were not. the numbers to .handle, and it could not reasonably bo expected tbal • the service which mas available overseas could be found hero. lu every may

tho depression had had a serious effect on tourist traffic in Australia, and every _effort had been put forward, so that immediately it lifted all sendees would ho ready to copo with better business. During tho last two or three years tho tourist industry of Australia, as a result of the National. Travel Association, had mudo great strides in catering for overseas visitors, and very few making tours recently had gone away dissatisfied. Mr Stilling then wont on to speak of the new’ Sydney Harbour Bridge, which, ho said, could 1 now he mentioned along with tho Firth of Forth Bridge in Scotland, and the Quebec Bridge over the St. Lawrence in Canada. Jt was to ho opened on March 19 next in conjunction with tho Royal Agricultural Society’s show. The Irridgo provided for four lines of electric railway, a roadway 57ft wide, and two footways each 10ft wide. There was a headway for shipping of 172 ft Gin at mean high water, and including tho stool approaches tho length of tho bridge would ho 3,770 ft. Tho total cost would he £(3,400,000, ami the railway would involve a further amount estimated in - all. iit £7.000,000. Weighing 50,000,200 tons, the bridge would have a capacity for handling ]6S trains, (3,000 motor vehicles, and 40,000 pedestrians in an hour. Mr Stilling’s business in Dunedin is in connection with a highly valuable collection of Australian photographs, 'depicting scones, native ilora and fauna, capital cities, Aboriginal life, and tho Sydney Harbour Bridge. They are to he exhibited ou the first floor in the D.T.C.. the display to ho opened hv tho mayor to-morrow afternoon.