LUXURY LINERS

Evening Star, Issue 22953, 10 May 1938, Page 8

LUXURY LINERS

NORTH ISLAND MONOPOLY TRAVEL ASSOCIATION'S PIQNIALB ■ s 'i- * ■ , -t *r! “ Luxury liner cruises are virtually a North Island monopoly with Auckland taking the biggest share.’* This was the comment of the director of the, South Islands Travel ’ Association (Mr J. J. W. Pollard) on the- statement from Auckland that luxury liners brought nearly 8,000 people to the Dominion and spent £20,000 in portf charges and purchases of stores in addition to £34,800 in bookings for transport, accommodation, etc. ' ~ ' ■ “ The South Island obtained none i)f this,” Mr' Pollard went on, “ and the explanation of this is that the> companies which organise these ton re do not know anything of what the South Island has to oner. The predominance of Auckland is not .due to its geographic advantage as a port, but to the emphasis on the thermal regions in New Zealand publicity. When New Zealand is mentioned, the thermal region is uppermost in the tourist’s mind; and Auckland, therefore, is the most favoured port. Whatever argument there may be in connection with vessels on time-table runs, and those liners which cross the Tasman while turning round on the run from Australia to the United Kingdom, the luxury ships on world cruises have their itineraries shaped by the Dominion’s publicity; and the effect of this is dearly, jn favour of Auckland.

“So little i« thought of the South' Island that when the Empress of Bril tain sailed to the coast of the South Island nothing was done to suggest that her passengers were in any way interested in seeing the country. The'vessel appeared off Milford Sound on abeaptiful day—the weather was clear andl fine both outside and inside the sound—but after pausing for a little.time sh* Sailed away without going ; into the sound. Mr Mercer, of Air Travel Ltd., flew out from Hokitika in an attempt to obtain a photograph of the vessel. He went up B,oooft and was probably eight or 10 miles off the coast, but. ha saw no sign of her,. so that she must have been well over 80 miles from the coast. Transtasman vessels approach' within 10 miles to give passengers an opportunity to see the coast line, which is one of the most beautiful .in the world. -

“ The Empress of Britain left Milford at about 7.30 a.m. and should have been off Franz Josef at 2.30 p.m.* where she could have sighted the high! hinterland under perfect conditions, jf the deep-sea men were a bit nervous .of the coast the use of a pilot could havo overcome these qualms, and in future it is to be hoped that even when our ports are neglected steps will be taken to ensure that the sounds are hot overlooked. '

“ The Travel Association is taking what steps it can to impress on the which organise and carry out these cruises that in cutting-out the South Island they are missing the best/ of the Dominion, and we propose to urge in direct correspondence that a better opportunity for passengers to see some of the South Island will greatly enhance the pleasure of those who come to this part of the world.”