ADVERTISING DOMINION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19144, 9 October 1925, Page 12

ADVERTISING DOMINION

PUBLICITY OFFICE WORK, j OUTLINE OF OPERATIONS. LITERATURE AND PICTURES. The scope of the operations of New Zealand's Publicity Office in its efforts to bring the scenic attractions, sporting resources and settlement opportunities of the Dominion under the notice of the people of other countries was the theme of an address delivered yesterday at the monthly luncheon of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce by Mr. A. H. Messenger, at present officer in charge of the publicity work. The vice-president of the chamber, Mr. M. Stewart, occupied the chair. After indicating some of the difficulties met with, chiefly in .the way of restricted finance, when the publicity work was transferred two years ago from the Tourist Department to that of Internal Affairs. Mr. Messenger said the Government had in the late session provided a substantial vote, so the work could now be extended. Wembley Exhibition had been the means of wide distribution of literature and pictures concerning the Dominion. As regards the American continent, the Canadian Pacific Railway authorities and the Santa Fe Railway Company were making liberal displays of scenic pictures supplied by the department ia their hotels and offices. The Union Steam Ship Company was doing similar service m its San Francisco arid other offices and Messrs. Thomas Cook and Son were doing likewise in their tourist branches the world over. 'I he department had under consideration the stationing of an officer in San Francisco to direct the circulation of information in the United States and Canada. The New Zealand tourist agencies in Melbourne and Sydney were at present housed on upper floors of tail buildings, but the Publicity Board had proposed to the Government the securing of groundfloor offices in well-situated premises, with cinema halls attached, in which films representing New Zealand scenery would be exhibited. Cinema films were being produced in considerable quantities by officers connected with the department. These would soon be displayed in short sections in the principal moving picture houses of Australia, and were also being taken up in American theatres. Enlarged and framed still photographs of were also being exhibited in tho principal Australian hotels. With regard to the interest in New Zealand awakened abroad, Mr. Messenger mentioned that army officers in India, who were approaching their time for retirement—some 55 within the last, few months —and others in South Africa, and Canada, had written inquiring as to the desirableness of New Zealand as a place in which to spend the rest of their days, while people in China, the Straits Settlements and Java also had their eyes upon the Dominion with a view to either settlement or holiday tours. Again, the American journalists who were here with the White Fleet had carried away scenery photographs for reproduction, and arranged to have farther supplies sent after them. On the question whether the advertising of the resources of districts could best be carried out by the Government or by local bodies, Mr. Messenger favoured effort by the chambers of commerce, progress leagues and local bodies, whom the department would bo prepared to support by providing the best means of distribution. He welcomed friendly criticism by such bodies of the work of his department, as a means of directing its energies toward the channels and methods that will be most serviceable to tho ■ country.