BOOST GISBORNE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11831, 12 January 1933, Page 4

BOOST GISBORNE

MORE PUBLICITY WANTED

IDEAL RESORT FOR VISITING

MOTORISTS

LESSONS l 1 ’ROM THE HOLIDAYS

Gisborne, is very detrimentally al ~ footed by the lack of publicity, and this reflects, of course, on i o J . n ,f mess of the town and the prosper Sty of the district generally. J - h,H is the opinion expressed by Mr. G. Crawshaw, of Messrs. Ball and.Ciaushaw, local agents of the Aueklanc Automobile Association, ami want gained from the impressions of tourists here during the recent holiday season. “From a to9list’s viewpoint the roads to Gisborne are some of the most attractive trips in the whole of the Dominion,’’ said Mr. Grauishaw, “and visitors hero dining tbc past two weeks were more than delighted with the town. The weather throughout simply amazed them, more especially when they H*.ad of wet days in other parts of New Zealand. Practically all the visitors were of the opinion that the roads leading to Poverty Bay were surprisingly good. The W aikaremoann -TJ reiver a road, and the Bay of Plenty rood along to the East Cape and downwards can be claimed to be the nearest to Nature in the North Island, and, needless to say. there appealed especially to motorists from the cities, who wore enthusiastic in their praise. With all these advantages, Gisborne should be the Mecca of . thousands of tourists during the Christmas and Easter holidays. Large numbers came here, and all tell the same tale —a delightful surprise at finding the roads so eas't of transit.’’ As the agent of the A.A.A., ML. Crawshaw was, naturally brought into close touch with visiting motorists, and the number of times he had been advised by the visitors to “Boost Gisborne’’ would bare caused a smile on the face of the most confirmed pessimist.

MOTORING HOLIDAY BECOMING

NATIONAL

There ran be no doubt, saml .Mr. Crawshaw, that motoring is rapidly becoming the national way of spending a holiday. This is proving tho ease all over the world, and especially so in this Dominion. With a car or a caravan one saw ihe beauties of the land, could camp praoticallv anywhere, remain just as long ns desired, and then drive on to trie next place. Best of all, especially in these times, motoring is the cheapest form of holiday, after, of course, one had purchased a car. Tnuranga. it is claimed, had 4000 motorists there during the Christmas holidays; there were hundreds at Napier and Hastings, and Rotorua was crowded. People came from all parts of the North Island, and some from the South Island, tothese resorts, but Gisborne’- quota was small in proportion to other places.

A PATHETIC’ GISBOR XE. The reason for this i- plain, he continued, and that :« the want of publicity. Other town- have booklets and publicity matter setting out their attractions. A motorist in the larger towns can go to the tourist office and get handbooks of : tactically any town of note j n Xew Zealand except Gisborne- Ihe A.A.A. provide maps at: • assist •vo’ideri'uUy with propaganda, but it is .ret me policy of the A.A.A. io boost any

particular town. Its maps are for tho guidance of those who wish 10 get there. The matter oi publicity for ihe town it self rests wiiii the

civic anrheriiies. or some speeml body of citizens. Numbers ei Gisborne motorists who weni away returned with the same story—continual questions as to what the roads io Gisborne were like.

EXTENSIONS TO WAIKANAE BEACH AND DO A lAIN CAMPS.

Then, when the motorists are here, continued Air. Crawshaw, they must be provided with first-class, accommodation. V aikauae Roach is unexcelled in New Zealand, but the facilities there are woefully inadequate.' This is no fault of the Beach Society, who, with the limited funds in hand, are doing all in their power to make the place attractive. At times during the holidays motorists wore not pleased to find that they had to form a queue to get to the cooking facilities. The society is doing wonderful work, but it needs more help from tbe public. In tbe first place, more land must be secured. The ground is there, but the Railway Board refuses to allow the use of it except at an exorbitant rental. The board’s attitude cannot be understood, but, if necessary. Parliament should be ask-, cd to intervene and lease .or toll •an additional' area to t;he AVaikanae Beach Society. Tho speaker said ho intended to ask the A.A.A. to co-operate with the Beach Society to secure the land. The Domain damp bad also been well patronised but more shelter is .required and tbe extension' of the site to the sheltered southern boundary of the I)omain is very . necessary. The council has the matter in hand but it should be expedited.

business PEOPLE AVOQLD

BENEFIT.

. Then, with, public assistance, he continued, two of the best motorists’ camps in New Zealand could be established. Camping places such, as he suggested, would .be a valuable, asset to Gisborne, for it would mean hundreds of motorists from outside places, who would each spend at least some money in the town. 'With tho completion of the bridges on the north road, the completion of the iWaiknremoaem-Urewern. road, and the roadway round they roast '- from Opotiki, Gishorno should ho able to offer absolutely the best, resort for motorists in New Zealand. 'Visitors

Continued from } revious column) from tile - .north wore • enthusiastic over the Waioeka road, and now the ordinary motorist can come from Opotiki to Gisborne practically without. changing gears. TIME RIPE FOR. ACTIONS ... The, time . is- now ripe, paid AirCrawshaw .in.. conclusion, .for a combined effort by. tbe public to hto?t Gisborne, and' the first and most essential' work' is the publication of P handbook, in which should be giycn a inap of the district, its natural adbathing, hill-dimbing. bush sceneTyy etc.—the - accommodation, and . othf r .. itenis -.ofinterest-' Such a publication could, be arranged by a special committee, and the same . course, could be followed -as has been. don© in other, towns,-where the advertisements paid' for the publication. ' i *