Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-02-21
A. H. FORD REQUESTED TOADN
DRAWING UP PLANS FOR TOURIST
BUREAU FOR AUSTRALIAN STATE
BY ALEXANDER HUME FORD.
Especial star Bulletin Correspondence1

SYDNEY, y. s. w, Jan. 23.+--l nave
studied the indoor and outdoor work
iHgs OF AustralastaR government tour
list bureaus until ] begin to realize
how much there is for me to learn
and IL is putting IL mildly TO say that
7 felt flattered when the premier OF
the most populous Australian state. for
its size, asked me 10 assist in draw
ing up plans for government tourist
bureau for his state.
Everyone in Victoria whom | ap'
preached told me that il was impos'
sible TO ever separate the Victorian
tourist bureau from the railway de-
pa-tment. ] knew then that it should
be simple matter, for the reason that
no one had tried it. called on the
commissioner Of railways, Mr.. McClel'
lard, enc after half an hours CONVEX.
sation found he was quite willing to
aid in diyorcing his tourist bureau
from the railways on condition that
the state take il over and make a
separate appropriation. ]. G. Boyce, in
charge of the bureau. was almost en-.
thusiastic on the subject, but every
one was certain that the premier, Will
liam A. Watt, would not listen to any
such suggestion ] called on Mr.. Watt
and was informed that he could see
me but for a moment. The moment
stretched into an hour as the premier
became interested in the plan. Mr..
Watt wishes the tourist, and most Of
all the immigrant, from America.
Shortly after the Hands Around-the-
Pacific Club was organized in Homo
lulu. got my old friend and once
partney, George Girling of Chicago, to
organize a club there. While Premier
Watt was in London, Girling and the
Chicago Hands-Around- the Pacific Club
had official invitations sent him from
nearly every state governor of the
west, and from nearly all the cham
bers OF commerce ir the west and in
the east. to deliver dresses on his
state, Victoria. PreaA WATT prompt
ly cancelled bis passi home by way
of the United States and Honolulu,
ana returned by way of Suez.
why could not have delivered
that many addresses in year. he
said to me-
NO" I replied. "but think you are
convinced now of the service the
ands-Around-t he-Pacific Club can be
to the countries across the Pacific"
Will Visit America.
He saw the poirlt and intends to
visit America to deliver a number of
the addresses before the chambers of
,.,,,,. u, <-or W. fo,,nd tbot x,,o IA o. II
many aims and objects in common,
and ii did not take the premier long
to grasp the idea that the tourist is
the forerunner of the immigrant, and
that q tourist bureau can advertise a
country abroad as no immigration bu-
reau can possibly do So he enthusi-
astically agreed to support the plan for
a separate government tourist bureau
for Victoria that would work along
the lines being pursued by the tourist
bureaus of New South Wales and
South Australia, and / was requested
to cooperate with Percy Hunter in
drawing up a plan The great diff
Guilty Mr. Watt foresaw was in Sc
curing the man to carry on the bu-
reau. Victoria has been compelled
In its immigration works to borrow
from New South Wales a part of the
services of Percy Hunter, and South
is also eager to secure his
cooperation and advice. The few men
in Australia who are good outdoor and
indoor men, stand at the head Of ey-
erything in the commonwealth.
Premier William A. Watt is still a
young man. Without a
question he is the cleanest and most
Straightforward worker that | have
met in Australasia. He is a man that
! believe is destined to be the great
national leader in Australia. He is
honest and sincere. and the people
know it. Two months ago as premier,