TOURIST TRAFFIC

Southland Times, Issue 22769, 20 December 1935, Page 6

TOURIST TRAFFIC

DOES SOUTH ISLAND SUFFER? TOURIST DEPARTMENT IMPARTIAL. The suggestion that the North Island was favoured at the expense of the South in tourist matters was countered in a letter’ received from Mr L. J. Schmitt, general manager of the Tourist Department, in a letter considered at the monthly meeting of the Southland League last evening. Regarding the statement recently made in the newspapers that a Mr Basford, a visitor to New Zealand, had been advised not to go to the South Island, Mr Schmitt submitted for the information of the league extracts from a letter received from Mr Basford which, he said, clearly showed that such advice was not tendered by the Tourist Department’s officers. “We wish particularly to commend the service rendered by your admirable bureau. Every minute detail of the trip was laid out so that we had nothing to do but eat, sleep and enjoy ourselves,” Mr Basford’s letter stated. “Some impression seems to have been given in a newspaper article that I inferred that the Tourist Bureau was favouring the North Island. I wish to state very positively that this is not a fact as your body gave equal attention to both islands in its recommendations. I do say, and it is my common impression gained in conversation with the people of the North Island, however, that they rather belittle anything the South Island has to offer and try to keep people in the North Island. I think this a great mistake on the part of these residents living in your northern country. We are going home full of enthusiasm and armed with a great deal of very estimable literature with which you have furnished us, together with some really fine maps of New Zealand, and you will, from time to time, be finding that some of our friends will be calling upon you for your good services.” The chairman (Mr W. Hinchey) said that Mr Basford’s letter clearly showed that the Tourist Department had not favoured the North Island. However, they had had the impression for some time —and apparently they had been right—that there was a movement afoot in the North Island working against the South Island. They would have to watch the position and combat any belittling of the South to overseas visitors. It was decided to write to Mr Schmitt asking that the league be informed if unfavourable statements about the South were made in the North Island to tourists.