DOMINION GAMES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23083, 7 July 1938, Page 15

DOMINION GAMES

CENTENNIAL PLANS

SOUTH ISLAND CLAIMS REPLY TO AUCKLAND MOVE [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] CHRISTCHURCH, Wednasday "It is futile to blame Auckland for seeking the New Zealand Centennial Games in 1940 for itself," said Mr. J. J. W. Pollard, director of the South Island Travel Association, to-day, "but we will blame ourselves if we do nothing about it. Wellington has the exhibition, and if the sports gathering is to be made part of the exhibition attractions there is no argument for Auckland's claim, but if this sports gathering is not to bo held in Wellington. then clearly if we are thinking of the 3.)oinmion as a whole it should be held ill the South Island.

"South Islanders do not appear to realise that the exhibition in Wellington presents an. opportunity to develop a greater measure of travel in the South Island," he continued, "but this will be lost unless there is a definite and powerful move to offset the 'pull' to Auckland on people already in the North Island. If the sports gathering goes to Auckland there will be an increase in the strength of this 'pull' north, and the South Island will Buffer. Attracting Visitors

"The policy of the South Island should be that if the Centennial Games are not to be held in Wellington they should be held in the South Island. Opportunities offered by the exhibition can be exploited by the South Island if in the midst of the South Island provincial courts there is a definite South Island unit working to 'sell' travel in the South Island among those who visit the courts. "Unless something can be done through a South Island body like the Travel Association, visitors will admire individual displays and yet fail to make up their minds to travel because the cumulatve effect of the courts will not be driven home. Australian Ex-Servicemen "On this question of monopolies raised by the Auckland committee," Mr. Pollard continued, "one might say that Auckland already has' a strong enough hold on tourist traffic by virtue of its geographical position, and putting extra Centennial attractions in Auckland will increase the 'pull' away from the South Island. "At the same time we should consider also the possibilities in the visit of the Australian returned soldiers, and ensure that the South Island i 3 not overlooked. Wellington will have a big accommodation problem, and the more we can do to induce people to travel about the Dominion after seeing or before seeing the exhibition the better for everybody concerned."