BEA.tifUL NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1507, 17 January 1901, Page 62

BEAUTIFUL NEW ZEALAND

'our tourist resorts and S ANITOBIUMS. - SCHEME FOR THEIR DEVELOP-' ' MENT. WHAT THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS DOING. A TOURIST DEPARTMENT TO BE ESTABLISHED. INTERVIEW WITH HON. -J. G. ward. “The Government feels that bv special attention being devoted by a department that has officers in all parts of the country the natural advantages which New Zealand possesses in the way of tourist resorts can be 'utilised in the general interests of the colony to a very much greater extent than has been the case hitherto/"’ Thus ' Mr Ward to a “Mail” reporter who asked him what steps were being taken to carry out the intentions of Cabinet in that respect. Continuing, Mr Ward said that with this object, in view the Government had recently decided that it was desirable to 'place Rotorua, Hanmer, Mount Cook and all other health resorts and sanitariums in the colony under the control p£ himself as Minister of Railways. He went on .to.say: “This being the case, J: propose to utilise the complete organisation. or the railway service throughout the colony—and in places te which the railways have not yet extended to bring into requisition the services of other officers of the Government —in order to work up a better and a more widely .organised Tourist Department than lias .hitherto been possible. In order to achieve this, I propose to have one of the high officers now - in the Railway Department selected specially to take charge of this Department. In all probability it will be one cf the District Traffic Manager of. Railways who will be brought to Wellington an I work from this centre. There lhas been no fault to find as far as - the _ Government is concerned with the Department that has hitherto controlled the tourist resorts. On the contrary, I recognise that they have clone ■their best with their comparatively limited staff and limited resources. Therefore, while the change has been made in the general interests of the colony, the ‘Departments that have hitherto carried on this branch of the business will be utilised in co-operation with the Railway Department to put mucll GREATER VIGOUR INTO THE WHOLE BUSINESS. I share with my colleagues' the opinion that every pound l judiciously spent in making for the comfort of visitors to the colony and also for the comfort and pleasure of the people who reside amongst us will be recouped indirectly over and over again. I have already given instructions ,for the responsible officer of the Railway Department whom I have referred to te be brought to Wellington at an earl 3* date to confer with me as to a general plan of operations. He will then be sent to the different tourist and health resorts in the colony to investigate on the spot in what direction changes and improvements can be effected in the direction of making them more attractive and more accessible than they have hitherto been. One of the greatest difficulties that has been experienced by people in the colony as well as those who have come long distances for health purposes or with the object of witnessing OUR WONDERFUL SIGHTS OF . NATURE lias been that they have not been able to reach seme of these places as easily or as cheaply as they would have liked; and in many cases the accommodation available for them has not been of the most up-to-dhte kind. It will take a little time to bring about the requisite changes under contemplation, but I am hopeful, and determined, as far as it is possible to do, to have reforms effected which will generally add to the attractiveness of our colony and cause those who come here to speak well of their treatment rfter they leave our shores, and so induce others to visit us. As soon as I am in a position to confer with the officers who have zealously worked to carry on the sanitoriums of tlie colony in the past, I shall be able, I trust, to induce people to travel to •and to' stay at these places with , more comfort than they have hitherto been able to do. It will doubtless mean an expenditure of money to bring this about, but the Government has determined that this magnificent asset which the colony possesses shall be pushed to the forefront and made a striking feature amongst our developmental enterprises. We have a TREBLE OBJECT IN VIEW. - First, we recognise that tourists who come here fnust necessarily leave money in. the colony ; secondly, our own people as well as visitors who desire to avail of the popularised Tourist Department must necessarily uise our railways to a large extent; and, thirdly, th© opportunity will be given for the mineral waters of the colony to be placed more generally at the disposal of suffer, •ing humanity than is at present possible. I think the colony will not grudge the necessary expenditure to place the whole business upon an improved basis. We a To singularly fortunate in poses-

sing in the North hot springs of a wonderfully curative nature if scientifically administered; while in the far South in the cold lakes, which to a large section of the community are entirely unknown, we have health resorts of the very first order. Each and ah of these localities must be popularised, and must be brought MORE READILY AND CHEAPLY within the reach of those who wish to visit them. I may state that the Government is not at all satisfied with the steamer arrangements on the cold lakes in the South, and, while we have no desire to interfere with, or stifle, private enterprise, it. doe-; appear to be desirable that the railways of the colony which belong to the people, and hare an enormous sum of money invested in them, should be availed of to a very much greater extent than is the case at present for the purpose of enabling people to visit the wonder -spots of our colony. And, it seems to me impossible that a scale of fares can be put into operation on -the Southern railways to place the lakes within the reach of people of mod. erat-e means except by having a cheap, efficient, and regular steamship service on the ’lakes at the ■ terminus of the Great Trunk Railway. And it seems to be impossible that we can get, under existing conditions, a scheme of fares even moderately low enough over the lakes to bring this about. It becomes a. question, therefore, in the general interest of the colony, of having to make other provision to bring this about., it ought to be placed- within the reach of people of moderate means to travel from Christchurch to Queenstown and on to the head of the* lanes, and spend a ds3 or two' there, for very little more than the present rate which is charged by the steamers alone. But until a cheaper method is- established, and th* destination of the travellers MADE ATTRACTIVE AND COMFORTABLE for them, this desideratum be brought about. Thu Government- nas decided, therefore, to have plans and designs for a sixteen-knot steamer to be prepared to be placed upon Lake Wakatipu, and to carry one thousand passengers. If such a beat were available for say a week-end cheap service over the railways and lakes, there is no reason why a hundred people for each one that now visits -these localities should not do sc. And the same remarks apply with equal force to Rotorua, Hanmer, Mount Egmont, Mount Cool, and the Wanganui River. Arrangements could be made by which people could visit these places at- regular periods at fixed rates, and if the Government can assist to have these places made sweeter and cleaner, and. more attractive in every way, in addition to extending proper travelling facilities, it ought to prove a blessing to people generally'. There are very few countries in the world that have such a variety of attractive resorts as wej possess, and if we put our shoulders to the wheel and make them a ‘'‘draw” to outsiders to come here and leave their money in the country, all classes must to a greater or less degree share in the increased business which must necessarily result. For instance, there is no reason why we should 1 not have a fe;w thousands lof people finding their way across from United Australia in the summer if only to spend a few weeks in the COOLER AND MORE BRACING CLIMATE at that time of the year than can be found in their own territories. I may state that the Premier and my- colleagues are whole-hearted with me in their desire to bring the colony into greater prominence in this respect, and t> make it more useful than at present to our own people* and more attractive to the people in the Old Land and elsewhere who visit it. The( time mustcome when the people of Great Britain, America, and the Continent, tiring of the stereotyped sameness of their own holiday places, will find the desire arise in them to exploit fresh fields and pastures new. What more natural than that they should 1 desire to drink in the beauties of the varying scenery of the fiordlands of New Zealand? Everything conspires to our advantage in that respect. Though we never set about the enterprise with that object in view, there can be no doubt that this colony’s aid to the "Empire in South Africa has written her name indelibly upon the memories of those who live in lands where the English language is spoken. There will be a natural desire amongst Britishers the world over to view the land where we rear SOLDIERS BORN AND BRED. And the increased shipping facilities—the larger and faster vessels which are commencing to come to our shores—will in themselves induce a more considerable traffic than is. y r et in contemplation. Of course it is known to those who have had experience as travellers that we have not been in th© habit of “booming” our natural attractions in anything like the way that- older and more experienced countries have done. Look, for instance, at the Canadians and the Americans, how they “boom” the Rockies and Niagara, drawing thousands of people from Great Britain, the Continent, and elsewhere. to their shores. Yet there are few who would venture to assert that in either Canadaor America scenery can be found

MORE STUPENDOUS. AWE-INSPIR-ING and beautiful than is to be found in these ‘'favourite, isles,” .or who would even attempt all-round comparisons, j. hope that in tlie course of a few months we shall have laid the groundwork oi a well-organised and vigorous Tourist department, which, worked in conjunction with our railways, will prove of lasting service to our colony." ■ t"N.Z. Times," January 9.)_ The Hon. ,J. G. Ward has realised that Providence best helps these that help themselves. Hie seems also to have discovered that the thing which is nobody’s business never prospers. Therefore, ne has determined to fester the tourist traffic, which ought to be one cf tlie best assets cf the colony; and he lias made up his mind that Mr Donne, of the Railway Service, is the best man to organise the business, and the Minister Mill offer him, it is understood, the position. At the outset it can be said that Mr Ward lias begun at the right end. and taken the proper first step. Tlie leading fact about the tourist traffic is that, however great the expectations of the foreign element may be, the local element is just now the strongest. It lies close to our hand, in quantity available for the magic of the cheap trip. But the time lias come when the cheap trip is not possible. The railways can move thousands where now they move units. But it is useless to throw these thousands. on the shore of an inland lake, ne matter liow interesting, if.they cannot he taken round it. And the essence of the business is that just now they/ can only be dumped clown on the shore to be left there te, their own-devices. ThWis the justification of : the policy of building steamers to co-operate with .the efforts which the Tailway;system cap'put forth easily.

All organiser, at this stage, is as great a want as a vigorous- policy. In Air Donne Mr Ward has found an organiser of the right- stamp. If any one can devise a system which can find outlets for the vast number of people .the railways can handle, it is Air Donne. Pie has proved his capacity over and over again during liis profitable connection with the Traffic Department. Energetic, methodical and large-minded, he will give a good account of himself, after he has studied the tourist resorts, gauged their capacities, and thought out the remedies for their deficiencies. Up to this time this was the business cf nobody; and new it is the sole business' of a capable expert with, we hope, carte blanche. Theorists have raved for years on platforms and in the press about our “Wonderland.” At last we have a practical man with a hard head and a commission to organise the tourist traffic on progressive lines.

Air Donne has another and a valuable qualification. New Zealand is fast becoming one of the most flourishing homes of the red deer. Acclimatised in various parts' of the colony, 'roughly speaking, between twenty and thirty years ago, the animals have net only greatly increased and multiplied, but grown to a size which astonishes and delights the most experienced sportsman. For size of horn, spread of antlers, and number of tines, the heads surpass anything in the world. The fact has come to be generally recognised, and is attracting sportsmen from elsewhere yearly in increasing numbers. When they come, they discover not only that the trophies of the sport are good, but that the sport itself is magnificent. Now, Mr Donne is one of the keenest, best, and most successful deer-stalkers in the colony. He knows his deer and the haunts thereof, knows where to find him in every part of the colony, how'to get at him, and what to expect from him when he has got him. As proof of his knowledge of “venerie,” he has the finest collection of heads in New Zealand, and examples of papers contributed to leadling journals of the sport. He is the very man to direct the deer-stalker who comes from afar. Aloreover, he knows his wants and understands the value of him as a tourist agent when he gets back to his own country. There is no doubt but that he can cater for your deerstalker in a way that will keep up the yearly supply c ( n increasing lines. The fisherman he understands, too, as well as the streams he is likely to affect, and the all-round gun he can cater for as well as the rod. In this sporting element there is a great advertising power for the tourist traffic. It is therefore good that the man who is placed at the head of the tourist organisation so well understands sport and its advertising capabilities. <_