FOLDERS FOR TRAVELLERS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20964, 1 March 1930, Page 11

FOLDERS FOR TRAVELLERS.

to the editor. Sir, —We of the south are apt to blame the northerner for the fact that the majority of the tourists who arrive there come no further south than Wellington, and although I know that in certain cases this is true, the main trouble lies much further back than that. Our propaganda has to be delivered before the proposal to journey is finalised. In England, the various touring agencies know just exactly what the attractions of each town in Britain and the Continent arc, and when they have ascertained what towns you wish to include and the length of time at your disposal, they give yon a mapped out tour and, generally speaking, to the ordinary traveller the time allotted pro rata proves quite satisfactory, .and he sees sufficient for his purpose. In England and America they have not the same intimate knowledge of New Zealand, and I recently met some on the boat who were told before they started.

that 10 days in New Zealand wore quite sufficient. A large number of tourists on a “ Round the world tour ” recently had, I understand, one day only in New Zealand. A party of six Americans would dearly have liked to see the south, j but had accepted the 10 days as correct and connecting boats were arranged accordingly. It took them just that time to reach Wellington, and I have had letters from them saying how delighted they were witli what they had seen and the people they had met, but bitterly regretting that they could not see anything of the south and its magnificent scenery. Further, we should have propaganda in folder form on every boat arriving, telling those who had the time available, that they could ship cars across the straits and over Lake Wakatipu, for another party of four, also Americans, who wished particularly to investigate the dairying and fruitgrowing industries, were told by—l am sorry to say—a responsible authority that it was impossible for them to travel by car through New Zealand. I am satisfied myself that this wrong information was given, not to mislead, but from want of actual knowledge of the facts. I contradicted the statement, and told the members of the party that they could purchase or hire a car in Auckland and travel with it to the Bluff, seeing all- the dairying en route, and I learned they had done this, and at that time wore in the Taranaki district and intended coming right on to Otago. They were told that for Cook Strait and Lake Wakatipu no provision was available for the transport of cars. It was extraordinary the amount of interest these folders, setting out the beauties and pleasures of other lands everywhere, excited. As I write, I have in front of me a folder given to every traveller in the train starting from Los Angeles or San Francisco, and it could well be applied to our railway service. I cannot expect you to insert the whole of this, but it is framed in column form,

and I have picked out, at random, a few instances, the information being preceded in each instance by a statement of the mileage from Los Angeles:— Los Angeles Central Station. Elevation 293 feet. Population 1,100,000. —7.45 a.m,, breakfast being served in dining car. —Through industrial and manufacturing districts., Santa ’ Barbara. Elevation 7 feet. Population 30,000. —10.40 a.m., slop. Sandwiches and light lines served all day in dining car at popular prices.—All-year seaside resort famed for its equable climate, beautiful homes, gardens, and hotels. Mission Santa Barbara founded 17S6i The El Miraso, Ei Eucanto, and Samqrakand are notable re-sort hotels. Santa Ynez Range forms background for city. Note, beautiful homes high on these hills. Across the channel Santa Barbara Islands are seen, the San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, and Anaoapa by name. Plstno. Elevation 24 feet. No stop.— last view of ocean, beach 17 miles long, favourite automobile course. Del Monte Junction. Elevation 1G feet. No stop,—Passengers on " daylight ” for Monteray, Peninsula Points change at Watsonville Junction, 5.30 p.m., arriving Del Monte 6.20 p.m., Monteray 6.25 p.m., Pacific Grove 6.35 p.m, Watsonville Junction. Elevation 19 feet. Tickets for Monteray Points held by passengers cm train 1 “ daylight" are honoured via Watsonville Junction.—Arrive 5.17 p.m., leave 5.22 p.m. Dinner is being served in dining car.—S.P, motor coach connects at Watsonville Junction with both “ daylight ” and train 77 tor Watsonville and Santa Cruz, j Belmont. Elevation 21 feet.—No stop. I —Beautifully wooded, estates and suburban homes,—

and so on till San Francisco is reached. Sixty-five places are passed- which are specially referred to and passengers are kept busy noting the changes and looking ahead for the next important place. In this way the journey of 471 miles, occupying 12 hours, is far less tiresome than a run from Dunedin to Christchurch. We have not mission stations, but we have a continual change of scene, mountains, fishing streams, agricultural stretches, etc., and I am certain that with a little thought and knowledge of the places, a folder could be produced which would interest passengers. It would be taken away, and no doubt produced in the home town, in America, Australia, or Siam, and who knows what the result to traffic these folders would he as an advertisement for New Zealand?—l am, etc.. Sunny South.