TO QUEENSTOWN

Southland Times, Issue 19173, 18 February 1924, Page 8

TO QUEENSTOWN

WEEK-END EXCURSIONS. SOME ARRESTING FIGURES. MATTER TO BE RE-OPENED AFTER MARCH 31. (Our Special Reporter.) QUEENSTOWN, February 16. During his visit ro Queenstown tonight a deputation brought before the Minister of Railways the question of week-end excursions to The Lake. The Mayor (Mr J. Simson), said that he brought forward the matter with a good deal of hesitation, because he had seen the reports of the meeting elsewhere which were net at all encouraging. He stressed the view that benefits would acrue to the town by the inauguration of those excursions and suggested that steps should be taken to give it a trial during the next month or two, or that they should lie able to judge whether it would be possible to make a fresh start next season. ADVERTISING NEEDED. Rev. Shcito Bishop thought autumn and winter excursions should be run at the beginning of the month instead of the end of the month as was done previously. It seemed to him that the people did not know what they had at their very doors. If the matter were well advertised he felt sure there were many people who would love to see this wonderful part of the country under snow. It was really a wonderful asset to the country. The Government spent huge sums of money at Rotorua; why not spend some of it at Wakatipu? “You have everything here, better than you have in Switzerland,” he added. He hoped that the Government would at all events give these week-end trips a trial. He personally was very optimistic about the matter. The Mayor further stated that week-end trips would prove of great benefit to the working people, who were unable to take advantage of the ordinary services. Mr C. R. R. P. Anderson instanced a case where an American tourist had expressed the opinion to him that the beauty of Queenstown was not to be excelled in any other part of the world. Mr Melville (Town Clerk), said that if these week-end trips were inaugurated there would be no extra expense to the Department except in the matter of advertising. NO GUARANTEES FORTHCOMING. Mr Coates said the last time it was tried, the increase was some 18 persons per week. Mr Coates: We have been discussing this for some time Both the Dunedin and Southland people have told be that they’ will fill the trains. Whenever I ask them to give a guarantee they are not disposed to do so. If the public are willing to help and can increase our revenue, then that might be different, but past experience has shown that the numbers travelling were almost nil. Mr W. Warren said Mr McVilly gave some figures but these did not tally with figures he had in his possession. Mr Coates said it had to be remembered that prior to 1915, which was the period quoted by Mr Warren, they did not have motor cars to contend with. Mr Coates: We want to satisfy the people and are not afraid to let you know. EXCURSIONS A FAILURE. Mr McVilly recalled the fact that on a previous occasion he had stated that there was a misapprehension on the matter. The returns were compiled from the numbers of tickets issued at the various stations and included all the important stations. The figures given at the time were absolutely accurate and over a long period the returns had shown that the business had decreased considerably. From a statement prepared by r the Traffic Managers at Dunedin and Invercargill for the summer excursions between November and April for the year in 1903 you had an average of 17 passengers per trip; in 1904, 12; in 1905, 12; in 1906, 13; in 1907, 12; in 1908, 21; in 1909. 12; in 1910, 11; in 1911 12; in 1912, 13; in 1913, 12; in 1914, 15; and in 1915 16. The winter trips were given a trial from Mayright through. For seven trips there were 442 passengers. The average revenue per trip was £35 17/-. Later efforts were not more successful. For instance the average number of passengers for the summer trips for the years were as follows: 1903, 86; 1904, 86*; 1905, 70; 1906, 86. 1907, 57; 1908. 59; 1909, 77; 1910, 71; 1911, 92; 1912, 98; 1913, 118; 1914, 108; 1915, 95; 1916, 42 and 1917, 39. ADVERTISING METHODS.

Mr McVilly continuing, said that though the figures showing the number of passengers travelling to Queenstown since that time were not available just then, he was positive that the numbers had decreased considerably, whilst the revenue had increased by reason of the higher fares. He then went on to give some particulars of the advertising methods which had been pursued in past years. He quoted figures showing that the first-claas fares were £1 and the second-class 12/6 for a journey of 300 miles to and from Dunedin. From Invercargill the fares were 11/- and 7/- respectively. Nobody, he believed, could contend that these fares were other than low in order to popularise the trips. These efforts of the Department were taken to popularise the movement. In addition to delivering handbills, posters were exhibited at all stations and advertisements inserted in the newsnapers over a long period of years. The week-end excursions to Queenstown had been a dismal failure and a disappointment to all concerned, but not more so than to himself. The figures quoted by Mr Warren only related to the actual number of passengers travelling, not to the number of week-end tickets. They were figures which the Railway Department furnished to the Queenstown people so that they might have an idea of the nuinberf of people arriving in Queenstown. He was just as anxious to do his part as anyone was to popularise the railways but he must have all the revenue he could possibly get hold of. The finances of the Railway Department had not been such as to justify him, as General-Manager, in making an experiment which he knew before commencing would be a failure. His duty as sole trustee was to make both ends meet. The policy of the Department was to get the railway to pay 3$ per cent, on the cost of construction. When they had achieved that he would be pleased to give some of the privileges the people enjoyed before the war. It had to be remembered that Queenstown was not the only scen?c resort in the Dominion. RAILWAY FINANCE. Mr McVilly added that it had also to be remembered that every man. woman and child had a £4O s’.ike in the railways. If there was a loss that loss would have to be made up by the people of the country’. That was not fair to the people who lived in the backblocks and who, perhaps, did not use the railway and who would have to make good the share of the loss. He had been tryto make both ends meet but up to this year he had not been able to do so. He believed that this year they would be in a position to make both ends meet. They had to remember, however, that they were not yet out of the wood. Once their accounts were on the right side it would give him the greatest pleasure to grant some concessions. Final consideration of that must remain until March 31, It had to be remembered that other places had got to have consideration. OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS. Mr Horn pointed out that he was amazed to hear Mr McVilly’s figures which had not been given publicity at either Dunedin or Invercargill. There was no doubt that the services were down as far as they could go. He believed that The Lake was handicapped inasmuch as the Railway Department was maintaining the wharves and steamers. On the other hand a large portion of the lands Around The Lake were Crown Lands and producing a large revenue for the Lands Department which was not contributing one penny to the various facilities on The Lakes. Then again there were no roads to main-

tain. Therefore, he though that endeavours should be made to make the Government Departments concerned do something to make things appear in a better light. Mr Horn suggested that a trial should be made of the excursions forthwith and that there should be such trips twice a month, one from Dunedin and one from Invercargill. NO HOPE TILL AFTER MARCH 31. Mr Coates pointed out that he did not think there was much hope of the excursions being attempted before the 31st March next, for the reason that the General-Man-ager had geen given a free hand in regard to fares, freights and services in order to keep the expenditure within bounds. After that it was quite likely that new departures would be introduced if revenue was forthcoming. Mr Horn suggested that they should make a fresh start and go out after revenue. There was ample accommodation available in the town fcr visitors and with a large number of young people now earning money, there was a potential source of revenue to be tapped. Mr Simson expressed the thanks of th? meeting for the friendly way in which they had been met. If. in the next financial year, trips could be arranged, he trusted they would be given a fair trial. He believed the local people might be induced to give some help in the direction of a publicity campaign to make Queenstown known in other parts. POSITION TO BE REVIEWED. Mr McVilly said that as soon after the 31st March as possible, he would let them know what the position was and he would be glad to co-operate with them in the matter. Mr Simson said the whole town was dependent on the Tourist Traffic. He thanked the Minister and Mr McVilly for the patient hearing they had given the deputationists. The Minister, in conclusion, said he was hopeful of an improvement being effected.