ALWAYS ROTORUA

Evening Star, Issue 22560, 30 January 1937, Page 10

ALWAYS ROTORUA

SOUTH ISLAND ATTRACTIONS SLURRED PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE REQUIRED [Per United Pi:fss Association.] INVERCARGILL, January 29. Astonishment at what he termed the sacrifice of the South Island in the selection of show places of New Zealand for overseas visitors was expressed this evening by Mr George who has just returned from the Science Congress at Auckland. Mr Jaquiery, as curator of the Southland Museum and a member of the congress, was able to note the arrangements made for the Australian visitors, who had a week of leisure at their disposal after the business of the congress. “ There was no mention of the South Island in the programme of sight-’ seeing,” declared Mr Jaquiery. “It appeared to be Rotorua first, second, and always with those responsible for the entertainment of the Australians. Indeed, so anxious were _ the Government officials that the visitors should see Rotorua that • they provided free transport. Some of the delegates to the congress would have welcomed an opportunity to visit the South Island. Many of them were keenly interested in New Zealand’s high mountain flora, and said so. This flora constitutes about half of the plant life of New Zealand, but as the majority grow on the high mountains of the South Island the visitors were not provided with the opportunity to see and study them. The glory of our alpine flowers is renowned, and I think that provision should have been made for the Australians to* see it.” There was some compensation, little as it was, he added. A private screening of Scott Thomson’s (Dunedin) unique collection of slides of alpine flora had been arranged! and those who witnessed it were greatly impressed with the exhibition. Some expressed regret that they were unable to see the living plants. “Something should be done about this North Island parochialism,” concluded Mr Jaquiery. “We in the south are losing by it. I believe it would pay to have a South Island resident representative in Auckland to meet all overseas tourists so that the beauties of the South Island and the advantages of touring could be placed before them. Personal contact by a southerner is necessary, and till we arrange for this we will continue to suffer as I have illustrated.”