TOURIST TRAFFIC

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 112, 14 May 1931, Page 11

TOURIST TRAFFIC

LINK WITH AUSTRALIA. NEW ASSOCIATION’S WORK. 1 ‘ FOSTERING GOODWILL. ' ’ To promote increased tourist traffic between New Zealand ami Australia, the Australian National Travel Association, which represents the Commonwealth Government Railways, the various Australian Government tourist, bureaux and shipping and commercial interests, has established a New Zea-], land headquarters. Mr S. W. M. j' ling, who will be in charge of the as- i sociation’s New Zealand activities, has had wide experience in tourist work. He has been in New Zealand on two ' previous occasions. In an interview by the New Zealand | Herald on Saturday, Mr TStilling said his services in New Zealand had been ( made available by the New South Wales Government. An office had been ( opened in Wellington, but the Dominion Government tourist bureaux would - L-. ,'■■■■' ~~'

act as agents for the association and would do the, actual booking of travellers to Australia. In the near future the association proposed to hold exhibitions of photographs, posters and tourist propaganda in the main centres o* the Dominion. “We realise that while there has been a big exodus of tourists from Australia to New Zealand in the past, there has not been the same proportion of travellers from New Zealand to the Commonwealth, ” said Mr Stilling. “We are hoping that as a result of co operation between tho several Governments of the two countries, however, that tourist traffic both ways will be greatly stimulated. “We are most anxious to cultivate better understanding between New Zealanders and Australians, “ continued Mr Stilling. “While admitting that conditions are not as good as they might be, owing to the general depression, this seems to me to be tho time to promote travel with a view to the exchange of ideas mid the fostering of mutual goodwill. Wc Australians, generally speaking, are quiet, peaceful people living ordinary lives like New Zealanders live. There are exceptions, but they are not regarded as serious by the more sober-minded people, am] it would be difficult to lind more loyal subjects than Australians.'' Referring Io present conditions in the Commonwealth, Mr expressed the opinion that exaggerated reports had been issued by disgruntled Aus Iraliaiis who could not say any thing good for I heir own country. The trouble with the average Australian was that, he did not talk about his country in the right spirit. Nobody appreciated idle talk, but good, solid criticism of the right sort was generally