This 1962 Nevile Lodge cartoon shows tourists comparing a gold-rush ghost town to New Zealand’s capital city on a Sunday. In 1945 a law was passed that put an end to Saturday shopping. Trading was limited to Monday to Friday, with one late night – usually Thursday or Friday. One of the reasons was to provide time for a family weekend. Until 1980 New Zealand’s main shopping streets were deserted at weekends, perplexing many overseas visitors when they found the country ‘closed’.
The text at top right reads: ‘The establishment of a “ghost town” has been suggested to the Tourist and Publicity Dept in an effort to attract more tourists to Westland.’ The tourist with the binoculars is remarking: ‘Say! This is like that Wellington place on a Sunday.’
Using this item
Reference: B-137-532
by Nevile Lodge
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.