S.I. TRAVEL ASSN.

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 April 1937, Page 5

S.I. TRAVEL ASSN.

EXECUTIVE MEETING

[per press association.]

TIMARU, April 6

The first meeting of the executive of the South Island Travel Association outside of Christchurch, was held in Timaru to-day. The president, Mr. W. K. McAlpine, reviewed the work done since the appointment of Mr. J. J. Pollard as Director, who had made a survey tour of the South Island.

In the tour, Mr. Pollard had encountered a good deal of misunderstanding, said the chairman, and he employed a good deal of time in endeavouring to remove this misunderstanding. The South Island laboured under difficulties which the Government could not redress. There had been an increase in the Tourist Department’s interest in the South Island, and a larger share of the expenditure had been devoted to the South Island, and this had been done since the formation of the Association. They had worked in no spirit of antagonism. They were intent on co-oper-ating with all the bodies interested in developing the tourist traffic, and their aim was to work in conjunction with the Tourist Department, and to enlarge the effect of its operations by drawing attention to the special attractions of the South Island. It was a co-operative movement, conceived and operated for the benefit of the whole island, and its success would be governed by the extent and intensity of the support accorded by those who will benefit from its success. They welcomed all efforts to make visitors feel satisfied, and were particularly pleased by the success of the Travel Club movement, an extension of which they hoped to encourage. Mr. Pollard reported on his tour, citing cases where tourists regretted not having had more time in the South Island. He said that there should be no setting of Island against Island, but the facts of the past would show there were disadvantages which this part of the country must redress, and the very fact that the Travel Association had been established was proof of the feeling which had existed, and still existed, that this disadvantage must be attacked. Matters of organisation were discussed, and it was decided to set up Advisory Committees in a number of centres.