The Daily News SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1935. RAILWAYS AND TOURISTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 February 1935, Page 6

The Daily News

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1935. RAILWAYS AND TOURISTS.

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The figures presented by the chairman of the Railways Board, Mr. H. H. Sterling, to the Press Conference at Rotorua were exceedingly interesting. If recovery of railway earnings has not reached the level hoped for it is at all events still going on. For the first ten months of the current financial year there is a decrease ift the net revenue of nearly £69,'000, as compared with the corresponding period last year, but against that can be placed special expenditure. Of this, £165,000 was a direct increase in the earnings of the staff, £145,000 being absorbed in restoration of a wages cut, and £20,000 in reductions in rentals paid for railway houses. If there is truth in the plea that increased spending power is essential to a return of prosperity the railway authorities can claim with justice that a portion of the special expenditure will give a direct return to the community. As Mr. Sterling said, there has been nothing spectacular about the improvement in railway revenue since the management was made Hon-political. At first the Railways Board could only improve returns by reducing expenditure. It was not a popular policy, but it was accepted by the public and appears to have been justified by results. The time came, however, when increased traffic was essential to further improvement in railway earnings. Mr. Sterling was able to point to a definite increase in the number of passengers carried, particularly through the Christmas and New Year holiday season. The board has set itself the task of popularising the railways by cheaper fares and special excursions during the hours when leisure is most general. Already the response has begun, and there seems no reason why the habit of travelling by rail should not be revived among the general public. The improved railway returns in the holiday season support to some extent the claim that there has been a resuscitation in trade and industry, and there is no gainsaying the fact that the good weather during the holiday season was of much influence in quickening the desire for travel.' Mr. Sterling also devoted a good deal of attention to the question of better organisation of the tourist traffic* and considering the manner in which this province has been treated by tourist traffic authorities during the past few years his remarks are likely to receive much endorsement in Taranaki. It is six months since the Government arranged a conference between the transport agencies, hotels and other industries concerned with the tourist traffic. That it is an industry with tremendous potentialities everyone will agree. The Gover-nor-General told a Taranaki audience a year ago that, in his Opinion, a thorough exploitation of the Dominion’s scenic and other attractions might make the tourist industry the most important New Zealand possesses. But for its proper development there must be a coordination. of services and cooperation between certain districts. So far there has been a distinct lack of the general effort that is necessary if a national industry is to be developed. The conference was called in order to co-ordinate services and develop attractions for visitors. Such an organisation must include other services than those of transport, and Mr. Sterling’s plea that it should be placed on a proper commercial basis demands the fullest investigation by all concerned. The only way to success is by giving satisfaction to visitors, and if this can be ensured there is no doubt that the tourist industry can make very substantial progress. Even the limited amount of publicity already afforded in Australia and the western States of America has brought good returns, and with the constant improvement in steamer services there is every reason to anticipate further expansion in tourist traffic. The success of the cheap railway excursions is an indication that much can be ‘ done to foster the tourist industry among the residents of the Dominion, and here again co-ordin-ation of effort, is essential if those catering for the traffic are to attain the best results. It may not be easy to arrive at the best organisation, but that is no reason for allowing a policy of drift to continue indefinitely. Although the chairman of the Railways Board would naturally desire to see increased use of railway facilities by a greater number of the travelling public the question of tourist management and organisation is one that concerns the Dominion generally, and is important

enough to engage the earnest attention of the Government and of the private enterprises concerned.