HEAVILY HIT

Southland Times, Issue 22052, 27 June 1933, Page 6

HEAVILY HIT

BUSINESS IN U.S.A. EFFECTS OF DEPRESSION DEFINITE CHANGE IMMINENT (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, June 26. The necessity for combined effort on the part of New Zealand and Australia, in encouraging tourist traffic from abroad was stressed by Mr A. H. O’Connor, representative in America and Canada for the Australian National Travel Association, on his arrival by the Maunganui from San Francisco. Mr O’Connor said that the extent of the depression in America was not realized in New Zealand and Australia. There were not many countries in the world that had had a worse time than the United States during, the past two years. The depression of business and public spirit was at its lowest ebb at the time of the Presidential elections, but the advent of Mr Roosevelt caused an amazing uplift in public feeling. Confidence had returned and a definite business uplift was apparent. This uplift would result in the resumption of tourist business. The desire on the part of Americans to travel had been dammed up for three years, but now the dam was beginning to burst. There was still a large number of rich Americans and these people were starting out to travel and he felt sure New Zealand and Australia would reap a substantial benefit. Mr O’Connor said that practically since the beginning of his stay in the United States he had recognized the advisability of united action on the part of New Zealand and Australia to attract tourists. There was a common interest in that respect and practically every American tourist wanted to see the two countries.