PUBLICITY FOR OPUNAKE

Opunake Times, 22 January 1935, Page 2

PUBLICITY FOR OPUNAKE

CO-OPERATSON OF RAILWAY

VISIT UF ill! A. G. GRANT

lu Aarious Avays, over the past two years, it has been our desire to gain (tie sympat Jiy and co-op-eration (<i the Govern men ( in Jielj>iu»>■ to make known, by a donation from an art union, and the frequent running' of railway excursion trains, that Opunake has something' good to offer holiday makers, many of whom would he only too glad to pay the beach a visit it a little more publicity could be given and arrangements made for transport. About a fortnight ggo an article was pub'ished in this paper drawing attention to the wonderful progress made at Alt, Alaunganui, Tauranga, which we considered was due to Government publicity. A copy of this paper was posted to the 11 ail ways Department accompanied by a letter inviting a representative to visit Opunake with the object of bringing before his notice the advisability of boosting the local beach. It was pointed out that in several ways benefit could be derived by the Department if holi-day-makers ‘could be advised by posters and booklets of the attractive beach so little known outside our own district. Visit of Official*

These efforts have been reAvarded and on Friday last, Air A. u. Grant, Business and Publicity Agent of the Noav Zealand Railways, paid a visit to Opunake and as many as possible of the Society were got together to meet him. Air Grant spent an hour at the beach and expressed surprise at the amount of Avork completed since his previous visit on the Wanganui excursion last year, lie commented upon th’e smart appearance of the cottages recently erected and complimented the society on its progress Avhich he hoped Avould be continued. Each year the excursion trains run had proved sucessful to the Department and the treatment accorded those avlio made the trip Avas greatly appreciated. He felt sure that the record crowd of last season Avould pass the word along to their friends and assure the success of the excursion planned for February 10th. On this date, passenger trains Avould be run from Wanganui and New 7 Plymouth rtes pec I i A*ely. Making it Known,

in reply to a question of Avhat publicity could be expected from the Department, Air Grant stated that in the case of excursions, every newspaper in Taranaki Avas used about a fortnight ahead to advertise the event, 2500 circulars Avere distributed and slides in about 20 theatres Avere screened for a Aveek or ten days. He did not think it Avould be possible to run small excursions from Stratford, HaAvera and Eltham thi s season, but tlie matter Avould receive consideration early next year. He quite understood the desirability of holding these trips on week clays Avhen the business firms Avould undoubtedly benefit, but th e trouble Avas the fact that at least three different days Avere observed as the w eekly half-holiday, and it would be difficult to arrive at a decision a s to Avhich was the best day to run the train. This, however, Avas a difficulty that might yet be overcome by experimenting early next year. . Posters and Booklets.

Bogarding the publicity given through illustrated booklets and bright posters, Mr Grant stated that this could I>e arranged and put into operation about September of this year. He agreed that such a campaign would bring the beach before many who might be inclined to give it a try-out. the result of their decision to stay for a period or pay a return visit resting entirely with the Seaside Society who would have to be prepared to make the area attractive and provide further facilities fdr campers, particularly in the case of cooking appliances. To bring the matter before the public, Mr Grant is arranging for two large pictures of the beach, which appeared in v the Christmas Supplement, to be included in the next issue of the Zealand Railways magazine, which is circulated throughout the Dominion.

Residents will appreciate the action of the Department in sending its representative along so promptly and it is highly probable that with a concerted effort, the Opunake beach will in a very short time he the most favoured, and popular bathing resort on the West Coast of New Zealand.