In the Mirror

Ladies' Mirror, Volume V, Issue 2, 2 August 1926, Page 2

In the Mirror

“Ghic ”

CJhe Autocrat of the Conference Tabic

To have idled the exalted position of President of the Racing Conference for a period of thirty years is in itself a sterling testimonial to any man's ability, power, influence and high-standing amongst his peers. In the case of Sir George Clifford, however, be has not only presided for this lengthy period over the destinies of the Racing Conference, but he has been essentially the directing genius behind the administration of the Sport of Kings in this Dominion, which has placed it in so honoured a position, that to-day racing in New Zealand stands as a model of efficiency, integrity and good government. That Sir George has earned a reputation amongst "lesser lights" in the sport of being an autocrat may be justified, but it is exceedingly fortunate for horse-racing and its manifold associations with the national life of our people that a man of such indomitable purpose and imbued with such high aspirations should have been found to hold the reigns continuously from one decade to another, and is still as alert in the discharge of his onerous and honorary duties as of yore. In returning thanks to his colcagues at the recent Racing Conference, when he was again unanimous-

Iy elected to the presidency, Sir George Clifford said: "If it is your will 1 am prepared to die in harness. Still, if you can do anything to relieve me of some of the duties. I hope you will do so." This was a noble offer and a modest request, which no doubt will be honoured by a grateful people, because the Conference delegates represent in a real sense all those thousands of sportsmen who are in any way associated with racing in New Zealand. It is inevitable that in the administration of a sport with such wide ramifications, and touching so many interests as racing, that we should from time to lime hear criticism of the methods of control and management adopted under the Racing Conference rules, but this much may be said of the sport in New Zealand that it is free from many of the baneful abuses so manifest in other countries, such as the insidious canker of proprietary interests, and the integrity of the sport is beyond reproach. For these inestimable benefits at least let us be truly thankful, and may the influence, if not the actual personality, of Sir George Clifford be ever associated with our national pastime.

Loyalty

Jf asked what virtue I account most fair, swift to my lips this firm reply would spring: “ ’Tis loyalty I prize beyond compare.” A disloyal soul’s a feeble, craven thing. Yes, loyalty’s the virtue I revere; that quality which makes the lips speak true, that’s never influenced by power or fear, nor alters when expedient so to do. Loyal to our friends when hostile winds do blow; loyal to our work when it begins to pall; and to that still small voice ail of us know; and to our strivings, though we faint and fall. I would he loyal in act and speech and thought. Note how much ill is oft-times worked, forsooth, because disloyalty has foully wrought a false impression out of half-told truth. I pray you make my soul a dwellingplace for this most noble guest, stauch loyalty. Then may I gaze upon sweet Friendship’s face unshamed, though there be many faults in me.

CJhe Minister for Agriculture

With the State exchequer low, ' ’ the markets for our primary products depressed, and the country straining under the burden of inflated land values no Minister of Agriculture can hope to become a political hero.

Yet in the face of those discomforting circumstances the Hon. J. O. Hawken shouldered the onerous duties of endeavouring to guide the destinies of the Disgruntled Farmer. Fortunately for the Dominion there was a man of the Member for Egmont calibre available for this important, although somewhat subordinate, portfolio at so critical a time in the country's progress. The Hon. J. O. Hawken was not a political wizard, or even an outstanding figure in parliamentary life when he became a Cabinet Minister and accepted the responsibilities of his present position. Nevertheless he has shown that he is a man of shrewd commonsense, with a strong vein of independence, backed by practical knowledge of farming conditions. He can be relied on to bring an alert mind and much-needed foresight to bear on some of the stern problems that are facing our primary producers to-day.

Exploiting Tourists Tt is a quarter of a century since -*- Sir Joseph Ward in a sense "blazed the trail" for many of our tourist routes of to-day. It was the foresight of this statesman that first suggested the creation of a Tourist Department, and had the portfolio attaching to that office expanded in the way Sir Joseph, no doubt, conceived it would, New Zealand might reasonably have counted her revenue from tourists as one of her greatest assets. As it is the functions of the Tourist Department have been cramped and cribbed to such an extent that very little real progress has eventuated from heavy expenditure, unwisely dissipated, over many years. The Great War certainly caused a severe set-back to any progressive policy in connection with the development of our tourist traffic; but since then there has been ample time to put the machinery into action again to garner the harvests that should accrue from attracting tourists and travellers to these Fortunate Isles. There has, however, been no constructive policy evolved, or at least if there has been any policy at all, it has failed lamentably from want of capable direction. Recently a new department of State —Publicity was created with the rather vague idea of co-or-dinating and co-operating with the Railway and Tourist Departments in the hope of luring visitors from overseas. The achievements to date of this innovation have been negligible when considered in terms of the cost incurred. Broadcasting all manner of vapouring, frothy literature from gawdy leaflets to voluminous books, pictorial illustrations, cinema films and such-like is poor bait unless capably directed and linked up with an intelligently conceived and comprehensive policy. At best the tons upon tons of art paper covered with super-

lative and picturesque descriptions of our attractions in letterpress and illustrations that have been indiscriminately cast upon the waters can only serve as ground bait. Unless the Government can tackle the problem of attracting tourists in a statesmanlike way all the money that is being expended in the direction indicated will return a very small catch. Prospective tourists arc not attracted from overseas by pamphlet propa-

ganda. They want something more tangible. For instance, they do not want to know what there is to sec. They will take most of that on trust or from hearsay. But they want to be assured that when they have travelled hundreds of miles overseas to reach their destination they can be certain of adequate accommodation, reliable transport, and good service. They also want to have some knowledge of what their trip is going to cost them, and how long they must

allow themselves to see what they have travelled so far to enjoy. It is too late when an influx of tourists arrives at Auckland or Wellington by a crowded mail steamer to proffer advice on where to go, how to get there, and what the cost will be. Worse still, it is futile —and not honestto entice tourists here in numbers, and have to tell them, however politely, that you are extremely sorry, but all first-class accommodation at such and such a place is booked weeks ahead, and you regret transport will not be available by regular service routes until some remote date. This subject will be pursued further next month.