Spur to Publicity Enterprise.

Again in 1924 the Publicity Manager journeyed overseas, when he exhaustively explored the American tourist field, from the Atlantic Coast to the Pacific, as a consequence of which he was able to suggest that the Railway Administration commence active tourist propaganda work in the United States. The outcome of this recommendation was that a South African Publicity Bureau was established in New York in 1926. It should be noted that Mr. Tatlow had paid an earlier visit to America, in 1913, and had even then stimulated a good deal of interest in South Africa.

Springing from the inauguration of the overseas offices, the tourist traffic and tide of business visitors from both Europe and America have increased enormously, with the result that a very considerable sum of “new” money is put into circulation yearly in this country. On a conservative basis, it is estimated that an amount totalling £10,000,000 has been netted by South Africa in the last six years as a direct result of the publicity work carried out in Europe and America under the guidance of the Union's Publicity Manager.

It is perhaps in his role as the principal protagonist of municipal publicity that Mr. Tatlow's name has become most widely known and respected throughout South Africa. There is, one imagines, no corner of this country that he has not visited, and hardly a village into which he has not instilled the community publicity idea.

The annual Publicity Conferences that are now attended by delegates from the far corners of the Union, and even beyond, go to show with what success this laborious work has been rewarded. At the Publicity Conference held last November, Mr. Tatlow was unanimously elected an honorary life member, and was the recipient of valuable presentations, made by the delegates to Mr. and Mrs. Tatlow, as tokens of appreciation of the work Mr. Tatlow has so long and ably done in the interests of South Africa.

Another monument to Mr. Tatlow's keen efforts is the large and ever-growing collection of handbooks, through the medium of which the prospective holiday-maker, industrialist, or investor is able to obtain detailed and authentic information on every town of importance in South Africa.

When Mr. Tatlow first became associated with our publicity movement, municipal enterprise of this type was practically non-existent, and it is chiefly due to his endeavours that today we are able to call on a veritable library of well-compiled and illustrated booklets that compare most favourably with overseas productions of a similar character.

Those people, scattered throughout the country, who have listened to Mr. Tatlow's enthusiastically-delivered and instructive lectures, will realise, as well as any, just what a force the South African Railways and Harbours Publicity Department is now losing.