TOURIST OFFICE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 13935, 18 December 1905, Page 10

TOURIST OFFICE.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,—There is a very decided tendency hero in New Zealand for the State to take over and manage insti-, tions that in the past have been carried on by private persons or companies. I believe this is good in many ways, but it- cannot be successful unless the Executive is careful that its servants or officers who man these- departments are competent and give proper attention to their duties, and I fear there is some ground for dissatisfaction on this eoor-e. We have here in Christchurch a Government Tourist Office, outside of which a notice is affixed that the office hours are from 9 to 5, except Saturday, when they are 9 to 12, the lunch hour being from Ito 2. These could not he called long hours, indeed, many of us who have to engage in occupations outside Government control, would he very glad to get off as lightly in this respect. Within this past few weeks, however, I have had occasion to visit the office abovementioned on an ordinary working day', that is not a Saturday, between the hours of 9 and o, and not between 1 and 2,-and on three occasions have found the premises closed.—l am. etc.,

DISAPPOINTED INQUHIER