TOURIST TRAFFIC.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21018, 6 May 1930, Page 13

TOURIST TRAFFIC.

NO CURTAILMENT OF EFFORT. MINISTER SUGGESTS CONFERENCE. (Special to Daily toces.) WELLINGTON, May 5. , It is being rumoured in some quarters that the Government is proposing to effect economies at the expense of some of the lesser State departments, and the Publicity Office has been mentioned in particular. In recent sessions Parliament has been strong in its approval of greater expenditure on that department, which also has the administration of the tourist resorts, in order that visitors from abroad may be attracted to the -Dominion. - “It is safe to say - that nothing will be done to jeopardise the advertising of this country abroad,” said the Minister in charge of the department (Ur P. A. de la Perrelle), in conversation with a reporter to-day. “I regard publicity as essential, and 1 can give an assurance that expenditure on that department is not being cut down out of proportion to the expenditure on any other department. No curtailment of expenditure will be made that will affect- the efficiency of the department in the work it is doing abroad. In fact, I am hopeful that the proposals we have in mind regarding publicit; will add to the efficiency of the , system. I regard the, tourist business generally as one of our great essentials, and I think we should make still' greater efforts to encourage overseas people to visit New Zealand." Discussing the question of tourist traffic the Minister said that he anticipated calling a conference at an early date of those who cater commercially for visitors from abroad in order to discuss with representatives of the tourist and publicity office a means of co-ordinating the various services bn which the tourist is dependent. Mr Perrelle said he felt there was room lot a greater measure of cooperation between the hotels, the various transport services, and other facilities which are essential to the comfort of visitors from abroad.