MORE PUBLICITY

Southland Times, Issue 22949, 23 July 1936, Page 12

MORE PUBLICITY

SOUTH ISLAND’S MANY ATTRACTIONS ASSOCIATION FORMED (United Press Association.) Christchurch, July 22. The desire of the South Island to give wider publicity to the island’s many tourist attractions and to make sure that tourist facilities are developed along adequate and progressive lines, was strikingly exemplified this morning, when nearly 100 delegates, representing public bodies and private organizations from Nelson to Stewart Island, met to consider the formation of a South Island Travel and Development Association. The conference was convened by the Lyttelton Harbour Board and the board’s chairman, Mr W. K. McAlpine, presided. ■ The delegates represented harbour i boards, city, borough and county councils, the Government and private pas- I senger services, progress and development leagues, and hotel and other interests.

“We do not wish to be parochial or to take a restricted view,” said Mr McAlpine, “but if we are to have any degree of success in the development of our tourist traffic we must remember that the North and South Islands are separated by Cook Strait.” Organization Necessary.

The first motion before the conference was that the South Island Travel Association should be formed.

In moving the motion, Mr H. H. Sterling, of Wellington, said that the keynote of all successful efforts the speaker had seen in his tour abroad was organization.

Organization was being carried out on a national basis right throughout the world, generally with the people concerned making financial contributions subsidized to a degree by the Government.

“We are not going to get the best out of our tourist traffic unless we organize on a national basis,” said Mr Sterling. “While I think we should go ahead with this organization we should always keep in mind the national basis. A competitive outlook purely 'o the North Island is not to be encouraged. There have been difficulties, not due to any North Island animosity, and what strikes me as the crux of the problem is the need of a round journey. By the very situation of the South Island there is the necessity for a logical organization, as well as a national outlook.”

It was unanimously decided to form a South Island Travel Association.