PASSPORTS IN DEMAND.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20280, 14 April 1934, Page 25 (Supplement)

PASSPORTS IN DEMAND.

New Zealanders Travelling Abroad. Undeterred by the high exchange rate operating against them, many New Zealanders appear to be embarking on holidays overseas. Christchurch residents are keeping pace with those in other parts of the Dominion in this respect, and, within the past twelve months, have journeyed to all parts of the world. There has been a steady demand for passports and renewals of passports, particularly in the past few months, as those who go abroad now will enjoy the summer months of Great Britain and the Continent of Europe. Since February, close on 100 passports have been issued at Christchurch, and twenty passports have been renewed. In February, over forty were applied for and granted, and last month thirty-two were secured. So far this month, fifteen passports have been issued and four renewed. These figures do not reveal the number of people who actually leave Christchurch for holidays abroad, as it is not necessary to secure passports for travel to Australia and Western Samoa. The bulk of the travellers are bound for the United Kingdom and the Continent of Europe, but in the past year many have found their way to spots off the beaten track, such as South America, Arabia and Kenya Colony. There has also been a certain amount of interest shown in travel in Russia, despite the warning printed on the application forms for passports to the effect that “ any person visiting any country or place which is under any Communistic form of government may be refused permission to land in New Zealand within three years after leaving such country or place.”