THE N.Z. GOVERNMENT TOURIST DEPARTMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2915, 26 January 1910, Page 43 (Supplement)

THE N.Z. GOVERNMENT TOURIST DEPARTMENT.

A RECORD SEASON PROBABLE. HELPING RHEUMATIC INVALIDS. The Hon Thomas Mackenzie, Minister

administration is less the receipts have increased. Particularly does this apply to Rotorua. I am also developing the management of the department along commercial lines. Hitherto we furnished the travelling public with information through the different agencies, and sketched our itineraries and excursions, and there our part ended. Now I am glad to say that

in oharg© of the Tourist Department, when interviewed by a Times reporter concerning matters affecting that department, spoke very hopefully of its prospects. " I am glad to report that the tourist traffic this year promises to be a record, said the Minister, " and I am also pleased to be able to say that whilst the cost of

I am obtaining a commission on our direct tourist work from the various agencies which are conveying the Dubhc from place to place. , " At Rotorua you may have noticed that we have built a very fine Maori pa, constructed on the old lines of defence. This, of course, has cost some money. We are

also keeping up in nice order the geysers at Whakcrewaiewa, which are close to the pa I refer to. And I have thought it only reasonable to charge Is admission to tourists visting these interesting places. I may say that the receipts from this source alone at the end of the first week represented an extremely satisfactory total, and, if the first year turns out as I hope

"Yes," said Air Mackenzie, "that is so. I feel sure that they will be just as well managed, and the result will be that our revenue will benefit to the extent of a few thousands."

" Speaking of the Tourist Department and its expenditure, it frequently happens that we do a very great deal of humam-

carryiriig last yeaa' an amendment in an, act. which will, I hope, increase more widely the benefits received by the poorer people who are suffering from rheumatism and kindred complaints. This will have a twofold result —first, it will help to relieve suffering humanity ; and, secondly, disease will be taken in its earlier stages. This will help to restore to health and vigour

it may, I have a project in view for utilising the money, which, if successful, will be a great additional attraction anct do much to bring overseas visitors in still greater numbers to New Zealand. “ I understand,” said the pressman, “ that you have placed your accommoda-tion-houses under altered conditions?”

tarian work for the public which is charged against the Tourist Department. For instance, the sick and afflicted receive benefits from us in free treatment, which represents some thousands per annum. In no country in the world is so much done for th© poorer people as is done for our people here in this respect. I succeeded in

many who might be totally or partially incapacitated from work." The Minister concluded by saying that he was hopeful that before long he would make it quite clear that the Tourist Department was not only no drag upon the taxpayers, but was in reality a source of much wealth to the Dominion.