TOURIST TRAFFIC

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21990, 27 June 1933, Page 2

TOURIST TRAFFIC

GREATER SHARE FOR SOUTH ISLAND GATHERING AT THE HERMITAGE (From Our Special Reporter.) THE HERMITAGE, June 26. To-day brought to a close one of the most successful visits of Canterbury and Otago people to the Hermitage,' after spending four days amid the graudeur of the Southern Alps, marked by a wonderful spirit of comradeship and splendid fun on the ski-ing areas and in the snow. Snow commenced to fall steadily on Saturday night, and by Sunday morning four inches had fallen at the Hermitage ..and over six inches at the Tasman Chalet. The young people in particular made the most of the excellent opportunities fo.- ski-ing. and tobogganing a-ound the Hermitage, and much fun was created in snow-balling. Though snow fell steadily throughout the day parties were organised and walks to the swing bridges of the Hooker Glacier and Kea Point were undertaken and greatly appreciated under the splendid alpine conditions prevailing. Right through their stay the visitors thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and the organisation of the trip to the Tasman Chalet and other amusements arranged by the management created only the greatest delight amongst the participants. In the evening an impromptu fancy dress ball took place, and in a surprisingly short time numbers of fancy and original costumes were brought forward, and the function made a very fitting conclusion to the series of amusements provided. The Mayor of Christchurch (Mr D. Sullivan) led the march in the lounge in an excellently conceived costume depicting Mr R. L. Wigley (managing director), especially featuring the fur headgear that was used on the Byrd expedition to the South Pole. Accompanying Mr Sullivan was Mr F. A. Mitchell (Timaru), personifying the manager of the Hermitage (Mr C. Elms), a portrayal which secured for him the first prize. Other prize winners were Mr D. Middleton (Cromwell) 1, Mrs K. J. Fulton (Dunedim) 2, Mr W. Mockett (Christchurch { 3, Miss Simonson (Alexandra) 4, Mr Hamilton (Christchurch) 5.

At the dinner Mr Wigley thanked the visitors for co-operating with the management in making the week-end stay so successful. He had been very pleased the company had been successful in bringing them together to enjoy themselves as they had done.

I Mr Sullivan in a very happy speech, in which he struck a very humorous tone, expressed the visitors' great appreciation of the effort of the management and the staff in giving them such a happy time. Mr Wigley was rendering n grrat service to the Dominion as a whole, and particularly to the South Island, in his work of popularising the scenic resorts of the country. He congratulated tho company on its work.

Mr G. J. Errington, president of the Otago Expansion League, said he saw by the Railways Magazine for this month that a plebicite as to what were the best scenic attractions in New Zealand resulted in an overwhelming majority for the South Island, the verdict being about 75 per cent, in its favour. . The Southern Alps was placed first, with 16 per cent., and the West Coast of the South Island next with 15 per cent., then the Southern Lakes, Avith 14 per cent, with similar voting for Mount Egmont and its environs. Other voting was: Stewart Island and Arthur's Pass and Otira Gorge, 6 per cent.; and Wai-. karemoana, 4 per cent. The other scenic attractions, and most of them are situated in the North Island, followed with lesser percentages. If one analysed the columns of the Railways Magazine it would be, found that the scenic attractions featured therein were about 75 per cent, of the North Island and as a business proposition he contended that the activities of the publicity branch were entirely in the wrong direction, About two-thirds of the population of the Dominion was in, the North Island and somewhere about 75 per cent, of the best scenic attractions were in the .South. It seemed to him that it would be good business to feature the southern attractions more so as to attract the majority which is- in the north to journey south. How could the northerners and more especially the overseas tourists know anything about, or be encouraged to ■travel over the railways of the south if the columns of the Railways Magazine featured mostly the north, where, according to that magazine's plebiscite, the scenic attractions are not as outstanding as in the south? Lord Bledisloe recently wrote after his visit to,the Southern Lakes that, "In no part of the world can there be found more natural beauty in so small a compass as in the South Island of New Zealand." That remark was made following a visit to Wanaka, Wakatipu and the Southern Alps. Mr Errington referred to the clamant need of the road connection over the Haast Pass. Of importance, too, from the Government's point of view, was the fact that this road would, of necessity, find its outlet at the railhead at Cromwell. Heartv cheers for the company, the staff, Mr Wigley and Mr Sullivan brought the function to a close, an.d the visitors left the Hermitage this morning and will carry with them the pleasantest of memories of their sojourn in the Mount Cook region.