TOURIST TRAFFIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20869, 11 May 1931, Page 11

TOURIST TRAFFIC.

LINK WITH AUSTRALIA.

NEW ASSOCIATION'S WORK.

" FOSTERING GOODWILL."

To promote incrcnserl tourist traffic beI ween New Zealand and Australia, the Australian National Travel Association, which represents the Commonwealth Government, Railways, tlio various Australian Government tourist bureaux and shipping and commercial interests, has established a New Zealand lieadquarlers. Mr. S. W. M. Stilling, who will be in charge, of tho association's New Zealand activities, has had wide experience in tourist work. lie has been in New /..calami on two previous occasions.

In au interview on Saturday Mr. Stilling said his services in New Zealand had been made available by the New South Wales Government. An office had been opened in Wellington, but the dominion Government tourist bureaux would act as agents for the association and would do the actual booking of travellers to Australia. In the near future the association proposed to hold exhibitions of photographs, posters and tourist propaganda in the main centres of the Dominion.

" Wc realise that while there lias been a big exodus of tourists from Australia to New Zealand in the past, there has not been the same proportion of travellers from New Zealand to the Commonwealth," said Mr. Stilling. "We are hoping that as a result of between the several Governments of the two countries, however, that tourist traffic both ways will be greatly stimulated.

" \Ye are most anxious to cultivate better understanding between New Ze.ilanders and Australians," continued Mr. Stilling. " While admitting that conditions arc not as good as they might be, owing to the general depression, this seems to mc to be the time to promote travel with a view to the exchange of ideas and the fostering of mutual goodwill. Wo Australians, generally speaking, are quiet, peaceful people living ordinary lives like New Zealanders live. There, are exceptions, but, they are not regarded as serious by the more soberminded people, and it would be difficult to find more loyal subjects than AustiaPeferring to present conditions in the Commonwealth, Mr. Stilling expressed the opinion that exaggerated reports had been issued by disgruntled Australians who could not say anything good for thenown conntrv. The trouble with the average Australian 'was that he did not talk about his country in the right spirit.. Nobody appreciated idle talk, but good, solid criticism of the right sort was generally appreciated.