TRAVEL DEMAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24749, 24 November 1943, Page 2

TRAVEL DEMAND

" QUEUES FOR BOOKING HEAVY HOLIDAY TFtAFFIC Long queues outside the Government Tourist Bureau in Queen Street and the Union Steam Ship Company's premises in Quay Street during the last few mornings indicated the heavy volume of holiday traffic to' he expected during the Christmas and New Year period. Before the doors opened at nine o'clock yesterday morning many people were waiting on the footpaths and the booking office at the railway station has also been besieged. As bookings are being accepted for a month ahead the rush is particularly intense this week when seats and berths on trains and steamers may be obtained for the days preceding and immediately following Christmas Day. Inter-island ferry bookings for December 26 to January 1 inclusive will open to-day. From Friday onward berths will be sold for January 2 to the end of the month. All services were heavily booked for the holiday period, said a Tourist Bureau official yesterday. The high wages available to those working long hours of overtime were reflected in the great demand for travel. Inquiries were being made for travel to and from hitherto comparatively unheard-oi places. The absence of travel restrictions this year also contributed, to the heavy bookings. Most near by holiday accommodation had already beer booked. The demand for travel this year was greater than in any other wai 'year. A Union Company official said that service requirements made th« position more acute for civilians