A Visitor’s Praise of our Tourist Department.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXVI, Issue 23, 9 June 1906, Page 41

A Visitor’s Praise of our Tourist Department.

INTERVIEW WITH MR. F. J. PROCTER, OF VANCOUVER. r. F. J. Procter, of Vancouver, British Columbia, has ben spending some weeks in New Zealand. In an interview Mr. Proctor said: — *’l am deeply interested in the working of your Government Tourist Department, and through th* courtesy of Mr. Donne, the Superintendent, and Mr. Robicsou, the Deputv-Superintendent, 1 have been able to learn a great deal with regard to the organisation of this Department. 1 cannot speak too highly both as to its eflic envy and the excellent results which are being obtained. From a commercial point of view, New Zealand has. in my opinion, no greater asset than that which is being created by this Department, and no country is richer in what may be termed the ’raw material’ than New Zealand. Everywhere throughout the two islands are sights and places of wonderful interest to the tourist; but it required an intelligent Department to control them, make them accessible, provide guides, build accommodation houses, establish bureaux of information under courteous agents in all th? leading cities and chief places of interest—not only has the Department done all this, but it has also undertaken the establishment and management of the different sanatoriums, including Rotorua, with its fine system of baths and beautiful grounds. The Department is also to be congratulated on the excellent character and beauty of its literature, and on the extensive advertising which it is doing. 1 am convinced that the Government cannot do anything more profitable for the country than increase the allowance for the latter. Few people realise the commercial value, direct and indirect, of tourist traffic. Every tourist who visits New Zealand must spend in the country at the very least £25 to £5O. Twenty thousand tourists mean, therefore, between £500.000 to £1.000,000 of good hard cash left in the colony. With judicious advertising the number of visitors will be annually increased. There is nothing to fear, because what the Department advertises it has got to show, ft can, as the Americans say, ‘deliver the goods.’ [ cannot imagine anyone going away dissatisfied, and every visitor who goes away pleased will send two more. In British Columbia. or, indeed, in Canada, there is no work of this sort undertaken, either by the Dominion Government or the Provincial Governments, but there are several local tourist associations. We have one in A ancouver which is supported by voluntary contributions and an annual grant from the City Council. A number of business men are elected annually on the board of directors, and the association is conducted on very similar lines to the New Zealand Tourist Department. The association’s, rooms in Vancouver are situated on the leading business street, and are visited annually by several thousand tourists. I have discussed with Air. Donne the question of reciprocity between his Department and our associations. and he is thoroughly in favour of entering into some arrangements which will be of mutual benefit, and steps are already being taken in this direction. I trust therefore that the advertising of the tourist attractions of New Zealand through our association in Vancouver will become an accomplished fact, and that in return through the instrumentality of the New Zealand Tourist Department British Columbia and its fine scenic attractions will be more prominently brought before New Zealanders and their many visitors. I hope to see the All Red Route become increasingly popular The railway journey across Canada by the splendidly equippe 1 trains o f the ( anadian Pacific Railway Companv is full of interest. The scenery in the Rocky Mountains cannot. 1 believe, be surpassed anywhere, and the railway company has built several b. anti fill hotels in the mountains, where travellers can break their journey.’’ Mr. Procter has been one of the directors of the Vancouver Tourist Association for some years.