DOMINION ATTRACTIONS

Evening Star, Issue 22878, 9 February 1938, Page 13

DOMINION ATTRACTIONS

SOUTH ISLAND'S SCENERY LOCAL TRAVEL CLUB'S MEETING

The scenic attractions of New Zea-

land, especially those of the South Island, were stressed at the. Dunedin Travel Club’s first morning tea for 1938, held at the Vedio Cafe this morning. The hostesses were Mrs Hudson and Mrs Lilly, and the chair was occupied by Mr H, L, Gibson. Visitors were:—Mrs Woodburn (Scotland), Mrs Shand and Mrs Lionel Stephens (Christchurch), Miss Ferguson, Miss Egerton, Miss Brook, Mrs Caselberg (Sydney), Mrs Moore (England), Mr Dickson (Australia), Mrs K. Mitchell (Oamaru), Mrs M'Callum and Mrs Holden (Hawke’s Bay), and ,Mr Jack Roberts (Wanaka). The main address was given by Mr J. J. W. Pollard, director of the South Islands Travel Association, who said that the foundation of that body was laid on the beauty and variety of the South Island scenery. Most of the people in the South Island were unaware that so much beauty existed in this island; indeed, if they were to enumerate all the places of the South Island which they should visit there would probably not be one person present that morning who had been to them all.

However, the ignorance of the South Island people was as nothing compared with that of the North Island residents, and theirs in turn was as nothing in comparison with that shown overseas in the South Island’s attractions. If was one of the main purposes of the association to educate the people of the South Island. It was as a result of a visit by a Lyttelton Harbour Board official to Australia that the association was formed. He had seen the work of the Australian National Travel Association, and had discovered its publicity to be particularly good, and he had returned to make the suggestion that the Australian scheme should be adapted to the South Island. Conferences had been held with the tourist and shipping interests, mainly to discuss the question of arranging for better publicity overseas. It had also been considered necessary_ to destroy the parochial spirit which had existed for so long, and to ensure that the tourist traffic in the country should work as efficiently as possible. Evidence that Australia’s lead was worthy of being followed has since been given in South Africa, where a Travel Association had been formed, and where it was proposed to spend £IOO,OOO a year on publicity.

Speaking of local activities, Mr Pollard said the association desired to ensure that visitors should not feel lonely in the crowd. He put forward for the consideration of the Dunedin Travel Club the desirability of it and other similar organisations throughout the island extending their present activities by establishing information bureaux at which visitors could obtain information of a general character. Arrangements might also be made for meeting tourists on their arrival and helping them in those small but important matters which frequently were

the sources of worry in strange places,

The South Islands Travel Association had been in existence only about sis months longer than the Dunedin Travel Club, and had already produced a book which was designed for overseas distribution, and which set out to present to the prospective tourist the best attractions of the Dominion. The association was also seeking to send abroad with New Zealanders who were visiting other countries publicity matter in the form of literature and photographs, with the idea that they should advertise New Zealand in the course of their travels. Again, they had to see that publicity matter sent overseas was given prominence, and in this work the Dunedin Travel Club was giving practical assistance through its arrangement with Miss Sykes, a Canadian, who was representing the club in Canada and the United States of America. The fundamental aim of the association to-day was to persuade all tourists to see the South Island first. The travel clubs were not the offspring of the Travel Association, which wished to work with them in sympathy and cooperation. Both organisations could then look forward to the time when a union between them would be established. They would be able to bring before the world the scenic wonders of the South Island, which were unrivalled for accessibility and variety, and the tourist traffic in New Zealand, and particularly in the South Island, would be trebled.

Mr R. Dixon, a representative of the Australian National Travel Association, who is distributing publicity for his organisation, spoke briefly of his travels in Australia, New Zealand, and Malay, and expressed the opinion that the South Island had far greater atractions than the North Island. He also explained the methods which were being adopted to spread Australian publicity in this country.

The President of the Dunedin Travel Club (Mrs Myers 1 moved a vote of thanks to the speakers, this being carried 1 by_ acclamation. The meeting closed with the singing of the National Anthem.

During the meeting solos were sung by Miss Phyllis Clare, the accompanist being Mrs Leech.