EFFECT OF DEPRESSION

Waikato Times, Volume 110, Issue 18408, 15 August 1931, Page 5

EFFECT OF DEPRESSION

FEWER PEOPLE TRAVEL. FALLING OFF IN BOOKINGS. The Christchurch Sun says: In spite of bait dangled by the Tourist Ofllc?, the Government, and the hotels and boarding-houses the public of Christchurch simply won t go travelling. It prefers to sit at nights conning its dwindling bank balance, and listening to economy talks over the radio. This time last year the bookings for the Christmas holidays were heavy; this year you can get in anywhere and be welcomed. New Zealanders have in the past been great travellers. Falling an opportunity to leave the shores of their own country, they have wandered up and down Its mountains, flshed in its rivers, and contemplated with delight the prospect of a fortnight s holiday spent in rushing from North Cape to the Bluff. One typist a year ago put in her annual holiday in this lastnamed vigorous manner, and declared that she felt refreshed by the continuous change of scene I And now New Zealand can’t be drawn away from Its fireside I Later, judging by the look of things, it will stop at home, weed the garden, mow the lawn, and Join the nearest tennis court. If it takes a holiday at Ml something in the way of a “hike" is contemplated. And what good are • hikers” to a railway department with empty coffers, and a Tourist Office holding out Its hands pleadingly to prospective clients? Reduced Hotel Rates. Within the last few weeks the majority of hotels In the Dominion have reduced their tariff a full 25 per ce it. Some have been even more drastic. Boarding-houses are following suit, with no rest «fnse. So far there are only a very few bookings for the Christmas holidays, and the prosper live travellers, strangely enough, arc ail married couples probably those whose Incomes are not likely to be disturbed by any sudden economic crisis. There Is one exception to tills sad slate of things. Botorua still holds Its appeal. To secure accommodation at Botorua you must still book ahead. One reason for this is that a holiday in Botorua is cheap. You can travel from Christchurch to Rotorua, spend 1 week there, hire a guide, and see the sights all for £lO. A sign of the times is that an increasing number of north-bound passengers is travelling second-class on the boat. Those who a year ago went second-class in the train and first on the boat are now second all the way through. This cuts down the cost a bit. Not so very long ago it cost £3 to (ravel from New Plymouth to \uck--1 and by motor. Now you can do the I trip for one third of that. The Railway Department lets xou go from Wellington to Napier for 16s if only vOil*ll continue your journey to Rot >- | nia at a coM of 30s They've olh t I pleasant surprises in the:r pockets- - plenty of them and as for the motor 1 people. Ihrj’re dimply burning with 1 desire to show New Zealanders round New Zealand. Mid >et New Zealand wont !».• , temphd forth. (Continued iu next column.) I

Significant Sign of Times. Still another significant sign of the times is found in the fact that this very week guests have had to be inveigled into staying at the hotels. At tills season of the year the Tourist Office is usually communicated witii, and officials sally forth with wedges and try and squeeze a few extra guests into Hie already overcrowded hostelrles. This year, on the contrary, all that lias been needed has been a ?>ram, or not even that, ami proprietors and staff have issued forth, smiles on their fares, and pleasant I welcoming words on their lips—- ; ' ' ome right in! The kettle's on | the boil: We trust you'll be comfort ■nd st iv .1 long long 1 line I"