DOMINION PUBLICITY.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 September 1926, Page 10

DOMINION PUBLICITY.

WORK IN NEW ZEALAND. THE DEPARTMENTAL REPORT. An interesting resume of the work of the New Zealand Government Publicity Department is given in its annual report and shows that the expenditure in the way of popularising the Dominion is amply justified. The report states, inter alia: In addition to the regular channels for the distribution of propaganda numerous other valuable opportunities for publicity presented themselves, and these were taken full advantage of. The two most important were the visit of the United States Fleet and tire tour of the Imperial Press delegates. In connection with the former, publicity ac’tivities commenced in Honolulu, where a New Zealand seenic film, forwarded for the occasion, was placed on board the various ships of the fleet. Some 50,000 feet of film was displayed by this means. During the stay of the vessels in New Zealand 60,000 publications were distributed amongst the ships’ complements, besides 5,000 photographs. A special souvenir booklet was published for the occasion, and proved most popular amongst the personnel of the fleet. Suitably bound photographic albums were presented to the principal officers. As a result of the visit very valuable contacts were made with newspaper representatives and publicity men attached to the fleet. On the occasion also of the visit of the Press delegates a special souvenir booklet was issued, and large numbers of photographs were widely distributed. Another event of importance from a publicity standpoint was the visit of the cruise-ship “Carinthia” with 400) American tourists on board. This vessel was well supplied with publicity pamphlets, and a presentation album of photographs was provided for permanent display on the ship. A fair idea of the value of the tourist traffic may be gathered from the fact that a conservative estimate of the disbursements in the Dominion of the “Carinthia” and her passengers during a three days’ stay amounted to no less than £20,000. This includes stores, light and harbour dues, rail and accommodation expenses and personal expenditure. Reference must also be made to the visit to the Dominion of the well-known novelist Mr. Zane Grey. Upon his return to America Mr. Grey proposes to display throughout the States cinematograph film depicting eword-fishing and trout-fishing in New Zealand. He is also publishing a book of his experiences with the big game fish of these waters. The publicity gained from this visit is certain to prove of great value and it is confidently anticipated that as a result next year w’ill show a very large influx of overseas sportsmen.