TOURIST TRAFFIC

North Otago Times, Volume CII, Issue 13461, 4 January 1916, Page 8

TOURIST TRAFFIC

PROSPECTS OF THE SEASON.

INFLUX OF AUSTRALIANS,

AN NX-MINISTER'S VIEWS,

AUCKLAND, December 30, The opinion that the Now Zealand tourist and health resorts will bo very liberally patronised this season by Australian ' tourists was expressed by the lion. W. 11. Edgar, late Minister in charge of tjio Victorian Tourist and Health Kesorts Department, who arrived by the Niagara yesterday morning. "This, of course, will be due iu some degree In Hie fact Hint Hie Conlineiilfil resorts are closed for the time being," said Mr. Edgary "but it is also owing tn the rapidly increasing popularity among Australians, of the line New Zenlaud tourist resorts of which I have heard so much, but nol yet seen, There is no more popular country for tourists than New Zealand, with tho people of Victoria, .at any rale, and your Dominion wiih eonstimlly held up In me by returned travellers when I was Minister, as an example to lie followed. All hough I had not the opportunity In visit New Zealand, I made myself conversant with tho work of tlie.rNew Zealand Tourist ami Health Resorts I)#partment, and during my term as .Minister 1 always had in view the, splendid achievements of the New Zealand' Government in Aliening up the many scenic beauties of tiie country, In my efforts to effect improvements at the tourist resorts, in Victoria, I must say that I always got my inspiration fronONew Zealand, I here wish to express the debt I owe to the New Zealand Government tourist agent in Victoria, Mr 11, ,1. Manson, who by means of lectures and iu other ways'is doing a valuable work iu spreading abroad a knowledge of the scenic wonders of New Zealand. To show the great advnntagc of. such agencies, I may say that I had the whole of my intended trip through Now Zealand mapped out for me at tho'Now Zealand Government Tourist Bureau in Melbourne, and 1 I even obtained my permit to leavp the State from the bureau oflice.C

In reply to a question, Mr Edgar staled that he thought that the diverting of the tourist traffic from Europe to Australia and New Zealand during tho war would be of permanent benefit to resorts in these latter countries, Speaking of Victoria in particular, lie stated that it was rather remarknble that tho receipts from the tourist traffic at the Government bureau in-'Mel-bourne for November showed an increase of £2OOO when compared-.with the figures for the same month 'last year.

Mr Edgar, who 'is accompanied by his wife, will lenvo AucKlnnd for.Kotorun to-morrow in progress of n tour of the principal tourist resorts in the Dominion.

Many'thousands of pounds' worth of wool nro stored In the Wellington Harbour Hoard's sheds awailing shipment. It is estimated that at least •ID,(ion bales, dumped and undumped, are .stacked in various stores round the waterfront. -Tho cheese stores nro also lillcd with 21,000 crates of cheese, and it would bo difficult to find room for another crate* The present accumulation is attributed to the absence of ships to liiliolhe goods away. On Thursday tho Kin Or;t arrived |o load 1000 bales of wool and 700 crates of cheese, and the Star of India will arrive there for Homeward loading 10-day. Thenceforward there should lio several:oversea steamers to lake the cargo offering, and the congestion will he much relieved, •