TOURIST TRAFFIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20241, 29 April 1929, Page 14

TOURIST TRAFFIC.

Sir, —Tho secretary of tho New Zealand Tourist Leaguo should understand that, if tho league is able to accept and utilise constructive criticism, many new members can bo enrolled. I cannot accept the secretary's assertion that current tourist traffic can be handled efficiently, for neither suitable nor sufficient travel facilities exist as a system, to cater for overseas visitors to this Dominion. Regarding general publicity overseas, there is no greater medium in vogue than the Auckland Weekly News for attracting world-wide attention to New Zealand's tourist potentialities. Tho writer, while on tour with visitors, has repeatedly discovered that a continual perusal of this journal was the introductory factor to their sojourn in Ao-te-a-roa. One particularly keen globe-trotter was very thrilled at the prospects of emulating pictured caf-ches of trout. Angling was his hobby, and the pictorial publicity had hooked him and kept him enthused until after tho first camp was pitched. Then something went wrong. Imagine the annoyance that was generated by the deplorable lack of ordinary courtesy and salesmanship on the part of the caterer whose fishing boat arrived at camp, two days late and in leaky condition, prepaid. An Australian sportsman has spent an averago of £750 cash, per trip, in this country during a two or three months' tour, annually, for the past five years. He lias influenced a number of friends to accompany him across the Tasman, but few of these folks have become repeat order customers. One factor which disturbed them was the charge of 30s per day tariff backed by a mid-day menu card featuring tinned (foreign) fish, cold corned beef, preserved eggs and tinned fruits. This in a country famous for prime products. .Against an expectation of 40 guests, ouo bathroom was provided. And such was advertised as "first-class" accommodation. OoiTUER.