TOURISTS FOR THE SOUTH

Evening Star, Issue 23175, 26 January 1939, Page 18

TOURISTS FOR THE SOUTH

MEETING OF TRAVEL ASSOCIATION BIG EFFORT AT EXHIBITION [Per United Press AssocuTipN.J GREYMOUTH, January 25. The need for unification of the national tourist advertising was emphasised by speakers at an executive meeting of the South Islands Travel Association at Greymoutlr to-day. The question arose on the adoption of a report by the director (Mr J. J. W. Pollard), who said the ‘ New Zealand Herald,’ Auckland, when commenting on the association’s annual conference, had chided it about spreading the North v. South idea. A reply had been sent to the newspaper pointing out that in none of its publicity did the association adopt that course. The chairman (Mr A. 11. Allen), Mayor of Dunedin, said that the development of tourist advertising in the South Island had been largely through the individual effort of the provinces, but anything done for the benefit of the South Island benefited the Dominion as a whole. The association represented every district in the South Island, and by unification was able to drive home to people in other parte of New Zealand its beauties and attractions. Members of the association were big enough to admit that there were great attractions in all parts of New Zealand, but ]m believed there was, in the South Island in a more concentrated form, far more natural beauty than could bo found in any other part of the world. The development of the North Island would, of course, help New Zealand generally, and the association was not in existence for the purpose of decrying tho North Island. Mr C. H. Olibborn (Christchurch): I think the Auckland Tourist League is a little jealous of our activities in our own interest. Mr W. Begg, chairman of the Otago Harbour Board, criticised the Tourist Department in Auckland for failure to advise tourists of South Island attractions, and said that if the association w'ere to succeed it must undermine that sort of thing or root it out altogether. Mr Allen’s suggestion that the matter should be taken up with the Tourist Department was adopted. BLUFF-MELBOURNE SERVICE. It was decided to urge tho Government to erect adequate, moorings at Milford Sound, where, it was stated, large ocean liners on cruises were unable to enter owing to the possibility of difficulties in the event of a sudden wind arising. It was also decided to draw the attention of the Government again to the necessity for resuscitating the BluffMelbourne passenger service all the year round, concerning which a deputa. tion from the association some months ago waited on Mr Savage. The possibility of cruises from Australia including South Island ports was envisaged in a report by Mr Pollard, who said the Orient Lino was interested in giving its passengers an opportunity of travelling in the South Island. The completion of the new motor road between Otago and Westland would facilitate the project, but in the meantime it was likely that vessels would disembark passengers at Lyttelton and embark them at Picton. The meeting decided that it was desirable to establish a South Island travel selling unit at the Centennial Exhibition in the South Island court, provided that sufficient finance was available. The estimated cost was £I,OOO.