TOO MUCH REDTAPE?

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 16 January 1928, Page 4

TOO MUCH REDTAPE?

WOULD-BE VISITORS.AFRAID OF THE BARRIERS CRITICISM BY SIR BENJAMIN FULLER “MAKE THE ROAD ACROSS THE TASMAN SMOOTH" 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 oi Us publicity campaigns and are a bad advertisement.

_ That is the opinion of Sir Benjamin Fuller, the head of extensive theatrical organisations iu Australia and New Zealand, who lias travelled widely in all parts of the world in recent years. Sir Benjamin was in Nelson over the week-end in continuance of a motor-tour in his own car through both islands, accompanied by Lady Fuller and their two daughters. When in the course of conversation with a “Mail” representative lie made tlie criticism indicated above he was asked to amplify it. What were his reasons? Were they based on personal experience ? ‘That’s exactly what they are and for that reason 1 prefer not to make a fuss about it,” replied the visitor. It was pointed out to Sir Benjamin that-if our methods were wrong or our reception of tourists doing harm, conditions were not likely to be improved if visitors kept silent about them while they were here. He was reminded, too, that it was only persistent agitation over a long period that resulted in the elimination from the official, form which all overseas arrivals had to sign before bring allowed to land of the'much-criti-cised declaration of loyalty. In that agitation Mr John Fuller had taken a prominent part. One point of criticism in that matter was that it was quite unnecessary to ask a loyal subject to declare his loyalty and sheer futility to ask a disloyal one to do so because such a person would not hesitate to swear falselv if it suited his purpose to do so.

Sir Benjamin agreed that the agitation referred to had certainly produced a result tiiat removed a cause of much caustic comment of New Zealand. It might be as well, he continued, if lie gave a few of his own experiences, hut he would not like them to be regarded as the expression of a personal grievance. It was possible some good might accrue.

FOUR TIMES

Last year Sir Benjamin Fuller visited New Zealand on four Occasions. Four times in twelve months had he given officials his personal and family history. Four times he had told them he was been in London and four times he had given them Ids' age, told them where he had just come from and assured them that he had no intention of remaining permanently in New Zealand—fond as he was of it—and so on.

Four times he and his* 1 fellow passengers had been kept out in the harbour waiting to he passed by the doctob —kept out- there whether it was wet or fine, hot or cold. He had' no objection ta being told by a doctor that he was healthy or to conversing with a healthy doctor, but it was a great v.'aste of time. Contrast this with what happened when a New Zealand boat arrives in Sydney. There the steamer would draw up to the wharf and tho passenger would walk off without any bother or delay.

(JETTING A CAR IN

As Sir Benjamin was bringing- his car on this trip lie called on tho secretary of the Automobilo 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, Eu- ' rope and the United States of America than I could to New Zealand,” he declared. Ily 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, However, Sir Benjamin Fuller brought his ear. Before it could he landed he had to deposit £250 in cash —a substantial bond to gnsure that the requirements of the Customs Laws would be fulfilled. As. he had his own business 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 the car off the wharf when he was plainly informed that lie would be arrested if lift did so. The ear had New South Wales pumlior-plates on and was not registered in New Zealand ! It could only' be towed off and must not he driven under its own power—not even to the Rost Office whom tiie registration fee had to ho paid'and new numbey 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.

RED-TAPE BARRIERS

‘This country has scenic attractions unsurpassed in any. part ot the'World,” continued Sir Benjamin. “But not nearly enough overseas visitors are coming to see them. From Australia alone you should be ipeeiving tourists who would spend at least half a million, annually—money tint would go into general circulation and add to general prosperity. But many of the would-be visitors are reluctant to face tlie red-tape barriers. The- regulations may be well-intentioned but officialdom interprets tliPin rigidly and there ’is no elasticity. Being of a benevolent disposition 1 hope the officials enjoy the emoluments I’ve no doubt they believe thev earn.”

Sir Benjamin doubts very much whether the heads of the. Government are aware of the extent to which tourist traffic is discouraged by the methods adopted. “You art endeavouring to make vour roads smooth. The petrol-tax, to which wo visitors also contribute, is assisting to achieve that object. Bui T would strongly advise New Zealand in do its utmost to ‘Make the road across the Tasman smooth’." lie concluded.