TOURIST AND HEALTH RESORTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3005, 18 October 1911, Page 62

TOURIST AND HEALTH RESORTS.

MINISTERIAL REVIEW. (Fbom Otjb Own- Cobbespondent.) WELLINGTON, October 11. The Hon. Thomas Mackenzie, in the annual report on the tourists and health resorts, refers to New Zealand as "the world's attraction." He adds:—"lt will be my endeavour to maintain this national asset, and while facilitating access to our beauty and wonder spots, preserve them in their original state, supplementing where advisable their natural attractiveness." Nevertheless, it would appear that the tourist traffic during the year did not quite come up to that of 1909-1910, the falling-off being attributable to reduced travelling on the part of our own population. The oversea traffic showed an increase, and there was every reason to anticipate even better results in this direction during the ensuing year. The receipts from all sources were £26,657, as compared with £26,872 for the previous year. " I have felt," says the Minister, '• that the practice obtaining in past years whereby a limited number of indigent patients have been granted free treatment in the Sanatoria at Rotorua and Hanmer was not a satisfactoi'y one. Owing to the limited number of free" beds available many deserving cases were compelled to wait a considerable time until a vacancy arose, and through this cause many cures were delayed. Feeling that this was a matter for Charitable Aid Boards receiving rates and subsidies for the purpose, I decided to take advantage of the provision in the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Act enabling such bodies to contract with the Crown for granting relief to indigent persons in any sanatorium or institution under the latter's control. I accordingly had drawn up a form of contract, and all applicants for free treatment are now referred to the Charitable Aid Board of the district in which the applicants reside. The system of booking passengers by steamer, rail, motor, and coach has been continued with very satisfactory results. The total receipts from this source to March 31, 1911, amounted to £29,050. the commissions received totalling £1343." He hopes there will be a large and increasing revemie from this souroe.