TOURIST TRAFFIC.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 904, 27 October 1933, Page 9

TOURIST TRAFFIC.

Improved Organisation m N.Z. Wanted. COMMENT BY EXPLORER. If New Zealand desiredto develop its tourist traflic it should improve its Organisation in every direction, in the opinion of Mr Lincoln Ellsworth, the Antarctic explorer, who is at present. in l'ihristchurch. Mr Ellsworth spoke of the need for steam heating in New Zealand homes and hotels, pointing out that such facilities meant a lot to the American on tour. He himself had nol fault to find but the modern tourist] had been spoiled by the countries that clamoured for him and did everything for him except see the scenery, and the more he was looked after the better he liked it. “ You have the attractions here for tourists and you already look after them well, but you have to remember that you are up against strong competition,” he added. Scenic Beauties Praised. “'hile not wishing to enter into comparisons, both Mr and Mrs Ellsworth had a word of praise for some of the Dominion's scenic beauties. They were enthusiastic about the Chateau Tongariro. Mr Ellsworth liked the country near the _ Chateau, and spoke highly of the service provided there. He was also full of praise con—cerning the beauty of the Franz Josef Glacier. to which he flew recently with Mr J. C. Mercer, of the Canterbury Aero Club. Commenting on the Antarctic and its influence on New Zealand, Mr Ells worth explained that the weather in the Dominion was affected a lot by the Antarctic Continent being so close. “That great mass of ice must have a big bearing on the climate here," he said. “It l will be a long time before anyone will; be able to collect all the necessary data, ; but when there are meteorological stations on the fringe of the continent it ought to be a great help in forecasting weather here, in Australia, and in Argentina. 1 think maybe I will be lucky going down there this year. You have had such a mild winter that I shall expect to find the Ross Sea more open than usual.” Mr Ellsworth is filling in his time waiting for his ship, the W'yatt Earp‘ by seeing a great deal of New Zealand and in taking long walks‘ He does not expect the vessel will arrive in Dunedin till about November 10. Mr Ellsworth, when he reaches the Antarctic will undertake what he describes as “the last big exploring flight left in the world.” He plans to travel by air from the Ross Sea to the Weddell Sea, to see if Antarctica is one continent or two.