LONG MOTOR TOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18018, 17 February 1922, Page 6

LONG MOTOR TOUR.

INVERCARGILL AND BACK.

CANADIAN FAMILY'S TRIP.

PLEASURES OF CAMPING OUT

Tho climatic and scenic attractions of New Zealand have mado a strong appeal to Mr. C B. Jones, a Canadian business man who, with his family, has just completed a motor tour of the Dominion, during which he covered over 3000 miles and saw a great deal more of the country than falls to the lot of the average New Zcalander.

Describing hi 6 experience on the tour yesterday, Mr. Jones said he visited New Zealand about the middle of last year, and on roturning to his home in Victoria, British Columbia, his description of the attractions of tho Dominion so impressed his family that they prevailed upon him to bring them to New Zealand. Arriving in Auckland about 10 weeks ago, they set out on the tour, which took them to Invercargill and back. The route- followed embraced Hamilton, Rotorua, through the East Coast to Napier, thence to Palmerston North and Wellington. Crossing to Nelson the party made their way down through Canterbury and Otago, to the far south, and on returning, visited Taranaki, and travelled through the King Country.

Road a Thorough Disgrace. Generally speaking, said Mr. Jones, the roads in the South Island were very good, and in some parts of tho North Island, particularly in Taranaki, easy riding was experienced, but he thought the road between Mercer and Auckland a thorough disgrace, forming as it did the only link, apart from the railway, between tho city and the prosperous Waikato towns. He was much impressed with tho concrete roads laid down by the Auckland City Council, and was firmly convinced that the roads of tho futuro would be constructed of this material.

I The party found the country interesting j from every point of view, and only regretted that so little was known in Canada and tho United States of the wonders and beauties of the Dominion. With good roads and judicious advertising in different parts of the world, said Mr. Jones New Zealand would attract large numbers of tourists, whoso visits would prove of considerable value to the 'country. To do this, good advertising booklets wero required, and it was just as important that they should be distributed wisely. He suggested that much could be done in this direction by the appointment of well-informed agents at Vancouver, Seattle, and San Francisco, cities through which many thousands of tourists passed, seeking new sights in the Far East. Could they only be told of the attractions which awaited them in New Zealand a large percentage would undoubtedly visit this country.

Damping Parka Advocated. Following a custom much favoured in America, Mr. Jones' party Bpont many nights under canvas and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The whole tour occupied 57 days and on 47 of these, tho party pitched their tents at the.end of the day in some beauty spot or gained the permission of a farmer to make camp in the lee of a belt of shelter trees. The hospitality of the people made a deep impression on the members of the party, who always had in the larder some gift of fresh food pressed upon them by kindly farmers. It was not always possible, however, to find suitable camping grounds, and in this regard Mr. Jones suggested that an idea becoming i very popular in Canada and the United States could be adopted with advantage hero. Throughout these countries parks are being set aside where travellers can be sure of getting camping sites, with the additional advantage of water and electric light supplies, stoves and other i conveniences. No charge is made for these services, and in parts where caretakers are kept a camping party will always find a supply of wood fuel. In this way peoplo who could not afford to pay hotel rates are ab'e to indulge in an ideal holiday at little expense, carrying their camping equipment with them and purchasing stores as they advance. It was j mentioned that American campir.g parties I now travel as much as 5000 to 6000 miles in this way every summer. While thoroughly enjoying the scenery, which to them was unique and at all times wonderful, Mr. Jones and his party escaped all but minor motor troubles, doing the tour with the one set of tyres. Mr. Jones is impressed with the conditions in New Zealand, and has taken up his residence in Auckland with the idea of sending his young children to school.