AMERICAN TOURISTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20302, 9 July 1929, Page 12

AMERICAN TOURISTS.

COST WOULD BE AMPLY REPAID

MORE PUBLICITY NEEDED.

If tho tourist attractions of New Zealand were advertised to a greater extent in tho United States, there would bo a much larger number of American visitors, stated Mr. G. A. Hanson, an otango grower of Upland, California, who arrived at Auckland from Suva by tho Tofua last evening. Ho is making a holiday to (ho Pacific Islands, Nnw Zealand and Australia. "Thousands of Americans make annual holiday pilgrimages to England, Europe and the Far East," Mr. Hanson said. "They go there year after year, generally to tho same places, drawn thero chiefly by tho power of advertisement. If some other plucc, equally attractive, was brought before their notice in a compelling manner, they would change their custom. There are boundless opportunities for Australia and New Zealand to attract these tourists, and the money spent in advertising would bo amply repaid." Mr. Ilanson was interested to learn that efforts toward the greater culture of citrus fruits were being made in New Zealand. It was a business that entailed a fair outlay of capital to be really successful, but tho profits warranted such an outlay. The annual cost of upkeep of a California orango grove was about ,1150 an acre, but once a grove was in production its value was about £BOO an acre. "I intend to make comparisons between our oranges and those from the Cook Islands and Sydney," Mr. Hanson said. "I understand that a large quantity of your oranges comes from tho Cook Islands, and it is only right that you should get the fruit from islands which arc reallv part of your own country. Ilowover, I think that tho Island planters would bo wise to study tho scientific mothods of cultivation now in operation in California." Accompaned by his wife, Mr. Hanson will loavo Auckland in a few clays to malco a hurried tour of the North Island beforo his departure for Sydney*