S.L.T.A.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21185, 4 November 1938, Page 10

S.L.T.A.

Annual Report Good Progress Made The annual report of the South Island Travel Association, to be presented at the annual conference in Christchurch to-day states that at the end of the second financial year the Association finds the organisation with increased strength in membership and in finance, and it was pleasing to be able to record that among the few cases in which membership had not been renewed all but one had been due to the withdrawal of persons from business. A pleasing feature had been a marked development in the keen desire of the provinces to co-operate enthusiastically in the Association. In past efforts provincial interests appeared to work against a South Island organisation of the kind, but this had been eliminated in the present case, and it was felt that in the future the expansion of the South Island purpose would bring about such a concentration of effort that the Association would provide virtually the sole channel of publicity of this character. The Association undertook the issue of Regional Guide books for the South Island and the following already were either off the press or in process of printing:—Nelson, West Coast, Dunedin, Invercargill, Christchurch. The Marlborough book was ready for the press and the South Canterbury book would be issued in November. In each case the issue had been 5000 copies and they have been published without being a burden on the Association funds. The Association had aimed at the production of books of high quality, and it was hoped that next year further improvements would be made to extend their usefulness and their appeal.

Centennial Exhibition Considering that it was desirable to ensure that the South Island tourist attractions should be given special publicity to induce travel to the South Island during the exhibition, the Exexutive endorsed proposals involving the establishment of a South Island Travel Bureau in the South Islands section of the Provincial Building at the Exhibition. While the Association must be gratified by the appearance of a definite South Island bureau, if that was the intention they still thought that the South Island must make special efforts to induce travel to the South Island during the Exhibition p?~iod and that this could be best done by close co-operation and a pooling of effort. The Director was a member of deputations to the Union S. S. Co., and to the Prime Minister in Wellington to press for the extension of the Mel-bourne-South Island steamer service to an all-year time-table. Although ' this extension would require subsidy similar to that granted before the de- ' pr:ssion, it was felt that the all-year I service would contribut to the develop- ■ ment of a winter tourist traffic which | would be of great benefit to the South j Island and the whole Dominion, parI ticulariy as an aid to the expansion of j accomodation at tourist resorts. The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. | Savage) was sympathetic and declared

firmly that he regarded the all-year service as an economic necessity for the whole Dominion. It was pleasing to note that the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, the Wellington Harbour Board and the Wellington City Council joined the dputation in urging the claims of this service. Night Trains During the year the Association was ! active in pressing for an Improvement ; to the night train connecting Invercar- i gill and Christchurch. It was consid- ; ered that a special train should be designed so that the maximum of comfort be afforded passengers. The Rail- ' way authorities were sympathetic to ; the proposals put before them and promised to consider them in the new : building programme. Honolulu Party The arrangement made with Miss E. M. Sykes proved satisfactory and by direction of the Executive it was renewed in similar terms. She brought a party of tourists from Honolulu, the party numbered twenty, and they spent 32 days in the South Island followed by nine days in the North Island. Various tourist units in the South Island made special contributions to a publicity fund for use in connexion with this activity and their readiness to renew their contributions was evidence of their general satisfacwith what had been achieved. Various suggestions for improvement in future itineraries were discussed by the Executive and the results of these were conveyed to Miss Sykes by the Director. The tour was succesful and the members expressed themselves in enthusiastic terms both of the scenery, the transport, accomodation and their treatment during their tour. Intense interest was shown in the Island’s industries, the visitors evincing a keen desire to inspect the plants of the larger manufacturers. Travel Clubs and municipalities were particularly helpful in assisting this pioneering effort, the results of which, it was hoped, would be the arrival of a larger number of similar parties from North America and Hawaii next year. Overseas Inquiries Reference had been made to inquiries brought from overseas by mail. In addition an increasing number of New . Zealanders were consulting the Asso- ’ ciation, seeking Information. The Association did not undertake bookings, but it had been able to arrange itineraries and in various ways to assist holiday makers to make the best use of the time at their disposal.