TOURIST TRAFFIC

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23514, 31 May 1938, Page 6

TOURIST TRAFFIC

MELBOURNE SOUTH-ISLAND SERVICE PROSPECTS FOR EXTENSION The opinion that prospects for the extension of the Melbourne-South Island steamer service were brighter than they had been for years was expressed yesterday by Mr J. J. W. Pollard, director of the South Island Travel Association. Mr Pollard said that one of the latest developments which encouraged the belief that the all-year Melbourne service was nearer was that the Wellington Chamber of Commerce had given its support to the proposal. An interchange of views between the Travel Association and the Wellington Chamber had resulted in the chamber giving an assurance that it realised that the South Island’s claims were sound and it was ready to help. It was to be hoped, Mr Pollard said, that the South Island would renew its efforts, and that, in seeking a Government subsidy, it would narrow the issues down to the main one—the extension of the service to all-year running. When the subsidy was Introduced in 1930, Mr Pollard continued, the Prime Minister was in favour of the all-year service, and conditions to-day warranted the full service more than they did in 1930,’ when the subsidy plan provided two steamers on a whole-year time table for £36,000. The experience of last year had shown that the trade done by the Maunganui in passengers and freight showed an increase over the figures of 1930, and that in itself was an encouragement. The Centennial Exhibition was approaching, and the South Island-Mel-bourne service was essential to the proper handling of visitors in order to avoid congestion in Wellington. There would be a large influx of visitors for the exhibition, Mr Pollard said, some by the service from Melbourne, but the South Island would have to work hard if it wished to make the most of its opportunities. It was certain that displays by the provinces would not be enough, and his association had suggested that each of the provincial courts should set aside a small sum to be used to establish a properly-staffed information bureau among the South Island courts. It could be operated by the association in the interests of the whole of the South Island.