SOUTH ISLAND TRAVEL

Southland Times, Issue 23726, 26 January 1939, Page 6

SOUTH ISLAND TRAVEL

Attractions Urged By Association

WORK OF TOURIST DEPARTMENT

Criticism Of Office In Auckland

(United Press Association) GREYMOUTH, January 25. The need for the unification of national tourist advertising was emphasized by a number of speakers at a meeting of the executive of the South Islands Travel Association at Greymouth today. The question arose on the adoption of a report by the director, Mr J. J. W. Pollard, who stated:, “The New Zealand Herald, Auckland, commenting on the association’s annual conference, chided it about spreading the North v. South idea. A reply sent to the newspaper pointed out that in none of its publicity did the association adopt this course, but members mentioned the advantages enjoyed by the North Island.”

The chairman, Mr A. H. Allen, Mayor of Dunedin, said the development of tourist advertising in the South Island had been largely an individual effort by the provinces, but anything done for the benefit of the South Island benefited the Dominion as a whole. The association represented every district of the South Island and by unification was able to drive home to the people of other parts of New Zealand its beauties and attractions. They were big enough to admit that there were great attractions in all parts of New Zealand, but they believed they had in the South Island in concentrated form far more natural beauty than could be found in any other part of the world. They wanted to do all they could to help New Zealand generally. The association was not in existence for the purpose of decrying the North Island. Mr C. H. Clibbom (Christchurch): I think the Auckland Tourist League is a little jealous of our activities in our own interest. Mr W. Begg (Dunedin) criticized the Tourist Department in Auckland for failure to advise tourists of South Island attractions. If the association was to succeed, he said, it must undermine that sort of thing or root it out. altogether. Mr Allen’s suggestion that the matter be taken up with the Tourist Department was adopted. It was decided to urge. the Government to erect adequate moorings in Milford Sound, where, it was stated, big ocean liners on cruises were unable to enter because of the possibility of difficulties in the event of a sudden wind arising. ■ It was also decided again to draw the attention- of the Government to the necessity of resuscitating the BluffMelbourne passenger service, about which a deputation from the association recently waited on the 'Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage). The possibility of cruises from Australia including South Island ports was envisaged in a report by Mr Pollard, who said the Orient Line was interested in giving passengers an opportunity cf travelling in the South Island. The completion of the new motor road between Otago and Westland would facilitate the project, but in the meantime it was likely that vessels would disembarK passengers at Lyttelton and re-embark them at Picton. The meeting decided that it was desirable to establish a South Island travel-selling unit at the centennial exhibition in the South Island court, provided sufficient finance was available. The estimated cost was £lOOO.