PUBLICITY ABROAD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26709, 2 March 1948, Page 6

PUBLICITY ABROAD

AS OTHERS SEE US AMERICAN ARTICLES REFERENCE TO DUNEDIN The Otago centennial celebratibns, a growing interest in this country as a substitute for war-damaged European tourist haunts, and occasional news stories of world interest have prompted a burst of New Zealand publicity m American newspapers and magazines which have arrived at the Daily Times recently Life—America’s most famous picture magazine—devotes the bulk of its middle-page spread in a recent issue to a photograph of the Balluntyne s fire disaster. , , . T „ A full pagp was devoted to New Zealand in the January 9 edition of the Christian Science Monitor, the somewhat lyrical banner heading being: “New Zealand Sings of Dunedin Centennial—and Its Bonny Scenes. ’ The sub-heading is “State Founded by nephew of Robert Burns,” and the article deals with the early days the province, the Gabriel’s Gully gold rush, and the rugged back country of “For those poetic hearts which are ‘ oft in the Highlands ’ of Scotland, the 1948 centennial celebrations of New Zealand’s beautiful city of Dunedin will carry a special overtone For Dunedin came out from the land of yon bonny banks and braes, if ever a city did. It came, too, out of the family of Scotland’s famous son of storied song, Robert Burns. ’ the article commences. Position Challenged “Modern Dunedin spreads over many hills and at night seemingly hangs out its lanterns in the South Pacific sky,” writes the reporter, after describing the founding of the colony. “The dominant position of Dunedin manufactures has since been challenged by other centres where the increase in population in recent years has been greater, but Dunedin to-day holds a solid place in the New Zealand economy. , , “To walk abroad in Dunedin, particularly at dusk, is to move by a step from one world into another. One moment you are back in the last century, another moment and you are far from the sight and sound of men in the delightful Town Belt.” . Other articles in the same issue are entitled “ Mt. Cook and Neighbour Peaks Challenge Alpinist Down Under, Weather Eyes’ Watch from Southern Isles,” and “ Maoris Followed Birds A-wing to Land of Long White Cloud? ” The last heading covers an article suggesting that the Maoris followed the migrating godwits. It commences: “ New Zealand is not a millionaires’ country. The Government nrides itself on catering to ordinary folks. Similarly, New Zealand’s natural wonders and, endowments are free for all to enjoy.” The Christian Science Monitor’s articles are accompanied by large photographs of Princes street, Dunedin, the Pohutu geyser, Mt. Cook from the Hooker Valley, and sea lions on the Auckland Islands. Holiday Resort In its section devoted to holiday resorts, the New York Times of January 4 published a five-column block of Lake Fergus and an article entitled “ Off to New Zealand“ Package Plane Trips Re-open to American Tourists this Remote Wonderland.” This refers to the Pan Pacific Good Neighbour Tours all-expense plane trips to New Zealand which “ cost 1818.75 dollars for a 41-day junket, 1510.75 dollars for a 20-day trip.” Travellers wishing to make their own arrangements are advised to have their hotel and travel reservations confirmed before departure, and a hopeful note is sounded by the suggestion that present shortages of hotel staff, may be overcome by the assisted immigration scheme for workers from England. . , _ “ In its natural advantages New Zealand possesses all the attractions of more publicised tourist resorts,” says the article, and goes on to describe the scenery, fishing, and hunting possibilities, and the thermal areas. “The seclusion of New Zealand from the rest of the world has resulted in a slower and more leisurely pace of life,” the article concludes. “ There are no night clubs worthy of mention and theatrical entertainment is almost non-existent.”