SOUVENIR TRADE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20231, 15 February 1934, Page 15

SOUVENIR TRADE.

Establishment of Industry Urged.

An industry which would appear to reveal great possibilities for New' Zealand, the manufacture of souvenirs for tourists, and one entirely overlooked was brought to notice yesterday by Mr R. J. Anwyl, now visiting Christchurch. Mr Anwyl, a resident of Melbourne, is the Australian and New Zealand manager for Thomas Cook and Son, Ltd. He said that the material, unique in its way, was at hand for the purpose and pointed out that what was commonplace to the New Zealander was something new for the tourist. “That is one thing I advocate everywhere,” he told a reporter. Maori weapons and articles oi dress, to mention only a tew things, would catch the interest of travellers from other countries. They also provided an unrivalled means of advertising when displayed in the homes of the travellers when their tour was finished.

The manufacture of articles such as that would not require a great deal of capital to start and would develop into something big, he was satisfied. There was no doubt that the articles would sell. “Your opportunities in New Zealand are better than those in Australia.” said Mr Anwyl. “I am quite certain that New Zealand could develop a profitable industry' on those lines. Photographs are of little use. They are put in an album ancT resurrected only at odd intervals.” Tapestries from Egypt were frequently' to be seen on the walls of homes—the crudest things imaginable. However, they were put on the yvalls or used as table mats and excited interest among visitors. Maori yveapons would make admirable wall decorations, and at the same time providing something out of the ordinary. Articles of Maori dress yvould serve the same purpose. “Thousands of visitors to New Zealand at the present time do not take a thing out of the country. Naturally in your range you could not compare with China or Japan, but I don’t see why you should not build up your own industry,” he said, “It requires only a little initiative. The unusual features of the country and its native people could be worked in even book-holders and the like to stand on tables.”