TOURIST TRAFFIC

Southland Times, Issue 21835, 12 October 1932, Page 8

TOURIST TRAFFIC

VALUE TO DOMINION COMMISSION’S REPORT CONDEMNED MR P. A. DE LA PERRELLE’S VIEWS (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, October 11. Condemnation of the National Expenditure Commission’s report regarding tourist resorts in New Zealand was expressed by Mr P. A. de la Perrelle in the House of Representatives during the course of the Budget debate this afternoon, Mr Perrelle stating that he was of the opinion that tourist traffic was worth at least £1,000,000 to the Dominion during normal years.

“The Commission recommends selling or closing down of Glade House, Milford Hostel and the Milford Track,” he said, “but it does not definitely determine what should be done with Rotorua. Glade House, Milford Track and Milford Hostel are essential parts of the greatest attraction offered to tourists visiting New Zealand, and to suggest disposing of these facilities shows lack of appreciation of the value of tourist traffic to the country.” The Commission appeared inclined to adopt a “penny wise and pound foolish” policy, Mr Perelle said, and added, “Fossilized ideas are of little use in a young country where development is absolutely essential to its progress.” The Commission had decided that the Dominion’s tourist and trade representative in Australia was not worth the money spent there. They had evidently taken a narrow view of considering office expenses without considering the enormous indirect value of the activities of the representative there. The Commission apparently looked askance at tourist traffic, but he held that it was an important industry which brought about £1,000,000 into the Dominion during normal times. Every avenue of trade benefited from the overseas visitor and it was impossible to calculate just how much benefit was derived by transport services, accommodation houses and business people generally through the strong influx of tourists.

“I am satisfied,” he said, “that the future holds for New Zealand a wonderful tourist trade.” New Zealand had been singularly unfortunate in the last couple of years. Quite apart from the depression of the past year the country had to face up to vast earthquake expenditure, the State’s share alone being £1,770,000. “It is regrettatble that Press messages sent abroad considerably magnified the Napier and Hastings earthquake,” he said. “In leading Australian papers and Home publications all sorts of misleading statements appeared under big cross-headings. Statements such as 2000 dead or injured and the whole countryside devastated, did incalculable harm and materially affected the tourist trade.” When in Australia recently he had heard in all States the great risk people would run if they visited New Zealand.