TOURIST CONFERENCE

Te Aroha News, Volume XLI, Issue 6543, 13 November 1924, Page 5

TOURIST CONFERENCE

RESOLUTIONS PASSED Mr G. M. Fowlds proposed: “That the tourist and other centres in the province be advised to undertake separate publicity campaigns, to supplement in detail the general Government matter, and that the Government be asked to grant power to local bodies to contribute towards advertising out of revenue and to subsidise what local interests raise.” Mr Walsh seconded. The motion is given in its amended form.

Mr McLean said that numerous local publications proved that people were anxious to advertise their own places, and suggested that every town should have authority, to raise money by rating for advertising lands, tourist attractions, etc., and the the League should work for the granting of such authority. Mrs Gordon and others disagreed with this, holding that the time was not ripe, as action in this direction might expose the League to undesirable adverse criticism at its inception. It was necessary first to educate the local bodies as to the necessity for advertising. / Mr Broadfoot criticised hotels 'in ' the smaller places, but said that before a programme of hotel building was entered upon additional tourists should be sought from Australia, rwhere they were used to the Dominion type of hotel, and an increased demand for accommodation gradually built up. The question of community hotels was well worth going into with a view to putting a scheme before the public later on. The Bth resolution was moved by Mr McLean and seconded by Mr King, who said that it must be kept in view that it was hoped that there would be r- # A an increased number of local tourists to cater for, as well as tourists from •• overseas. Mr Brainsby disagreed with the sec-., ond clause in the original resolution; * as being outside the province of the present conference, and the resolution was finally carried in the following form: “That in order to extend and improve the hotel accommodation to meet an increased and better tourist t/affic, the leading towns and tourist centres be recommended to carry Y’’ through community campaigns for lo- ■ cally capitalised* and controlled mod- , ern hotels.” ' Mr Marryatt', in proposing the 9th resolution, said that advertising was just as necessary to attract local tourists as tfiose from overseas, as few of them knew anything about the various resorts. 'He pointed out the desirability of cheap excursions, sleeping accommodation in the 2nd class, and observation .and parlour cars. Mr Wallnutt seconded the motion. Mr Rodie, in reply, said that a considerable amount of advertising was in hand in the shape of folders and pictures. New sleeping cars, were being designed, and if the proposed “Limited” ran through the scenic portion of the route in the daytime there v would be observation cars. The question of sleeping car rates was then discussed and the four day limit on stopovers was deprecated. Mr McLean said that so far as Rotorua was concerned excursions from Saturday to Thursday were preferable to trips from Friday to Monday. He stressed his previous remark that the Railway Department gained so much from increased traffic they should do far more advertising. The resolution was then carried unanimously, as u,nder: “That the railway facilities be improved by the provision of more and bettqjrksleeping carriages; sleepers for 2nd class passengers, parlour and observation cars,, on certain routes; special week-end excursion trains to tourist resorts and better departmental publicity.” Mr Eady, in proposing the 10th resolution, said that a feature throughout the United States was the inducement offered to motor campers, a camp site being regarded as indispensible by every town. He urged the necessity of local bodies setting aside camping areas near all places of interest to tourists. Mr G. M. Fowlds seconded the motion. The chairman asked delegates representing provincial towns to do their best to start motor camps. The resolution was carried uanimously as follows: “That in order to take care of the growing number of motor tourists, leading towns and tourist centres be urged to provide equipped camping areas. The Government also to be urged to make reservation in the unsettled districts. These should prove both useful and profitable ventures as in the U.S.A.