TOURIST TRAFFIC

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 January 1928, Page 3

TOURIST TRAFFIC

SIR B. FULLER’S GRIEVANCE. tPer Press Association.) NELSON, January 16. “New Zealand is acting wisely in endeavouring by various means to attract tourists to the Dominion, but the irritation and annoyance caused by the excessive use of red tape when they arrive, serve to counteract the effect of its publicity campaigns, and are a bad advertisement.” That is the opinion of Sir Benjamin Fuller, who was in Nelson over the week-end, in continuance of a motor tour through both islands.

Speaking of his experiences in bringing his jnotor car into the country, which were related in the public interest, and not as an expression of a personal grievance, he said he had called on the. Secretary of the Automobile Association in Sydney to ask him for any advice that might facilitate his. movements on arrival at Wellington. The Secretary’s reply was significant. “I could more easily frank your car to and through England, Europe and the United States of America, than I could to New Zealand,” he declared. He also stated that of the hundreds of tourist motorists who had contemplated taking their cars to the Dominion in the past twelve months, only one had done so, after ascertaining the difficulties involved.

Sir Benjamin had brought his car, but before it could be landed, however. he had to deposit £250 in cash—a substantial bond to ensure that the requirements of Customs laws would be fulfilled. As he had his own busi-

ness organisation “to call on,” that did not cause him as much concern as it would other travellers differently situated. That, however, did not end the matter. An assistant was about to drive his car off the wharf when he was plainly informed that he would be arrested if he did so. The car had New South Wales number plates, and was not registered in New Zealand. It could only be towed off, and must not be driven under its own power, not even to the Post Office, where a registration fee had to be paid and new number plates obtained. A New South Wales, motorist going to Victoria or vice versa, merely reported at the nearest police station, and there was no further trouble. “This country has scenic attractions unsurpassed in any part of the world,” continued Sir Benjamin, “but not nearly enough overseas visitors are coming to see them. From Australia alone you should be receiving tourists who would spend at least half a million annually—money that would go into general circulation and add to the general prosperity—but many of the would-be visitors are reluctant to face the led tape barriers and regulations, maybe well intentioned, but officialdom interprets them rigidly, and there is no elasticity.” Sir Benjamin doubts very much whether the heads of the Government are aware of the' extent to which the tourist traffic is discouraged by the methods adopted.” You ar6 endeavouring to make your roads smooth, and the petrol tax to which we visitors also* contribute, is assisting to achieve that object, *but I would strongly advise New Zealand to do its utmost to make the road across the Tasman smooth, 5 ’ he concluded.