ROTORUA DEFENDED.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 13, 16 January 1929, Page 8

ROTORUA DEFENDED.

TRIBUTE TO TOWNSPEOPLE.

BOROUGH SOLICITOR TAKES THE ARENA.

RATEPAYERS PROVIDE FUNDS

ROAD. WORK IN THE NIGHT.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, this day.

Rotorua during the past few days has been the centre of a considerable controversial storm, and some harsh things have been said about the town by visitors from Wellington. There aro two sides to every story, however, and today the case for Rotorua was stated by Mr. J. D. Davys, solicitor to the Rotorua Borough Council, who is at present visiting Wellington.

Mr. Davys expressed the view that Councillor Bennett's sweeping and destructive criticism of Rotorua was most unfair and unjust, and was not borne out by the facts. "Permit me to tell the story on the other side," said Mr. Davys. "Up till about the year 1922 the Tourist Department was the local authority in Rotorua. The total income for expenditure on the town was some £3000, derived from the Crown rents of leasehold tenure and half of the bath fees. This amount was hopelessly inadequate, and the town was going from bad to worse. The roads were impossible.

"The townspeople then took over control, and since then £40,000 has been spent in the town in laying down bitumen roads end metal on secondary roads. Instead of a revenue of £3000 annually the Borough Council has a revenue of approximately £8000 annually.

"By n special provision in the Rotorua Borough Act every ratepayer pays an advertising and amusement rate, and several hundreds of pounds are yearly spent in advertising the town and in providing amusement for visiting tourists. Every special trainload sent on to Rotorua by the Railway Department is met by the borough publicity committee, and transport to various eitee is arranged. A motoring camping site second to none in the Dominion is provided for visiting motorists, and as many ae 400 cars have been there in one night.

"The Highways Board completed in June last a first-class all-weather motor road ' through the Mamaku bush to Auckland. Over £35.000 was spent in the last few years in formation work on this road in order to have it metalled for last winter. For this work residents of Rotorua subscribed £1000 by individual subscription, the Borough Council put in £400 and the Highways Board over £4000, and over 24 lorries worked night and day up to 12 o'clock at night. AH through last winter travellers would paee lighted flares on the road as these lorries worked in double shifts carting metal to complete the now finished highway. "On the tourist roads graders are continuously at work, and the roads have been improved out of all recognition. Rotorua town itself provides excellent amusement. There are golf links, tennis courts, bowling greens, baths, native concerts every night, and a number of attractive trips. Whakarewarewa may be open to strong adverse criticism, and so may the old Government bathhouse, but certainly not the new one. "Mr. Hockly, tlie late member for the district, sat on the doorstep of the late Minister of Tourist Resorts until he wore out the doormat in an endeavour to get these matters attended to, but Mr. Nosworthy did not appear to be interested. Money hae been on the Estimates for years, but nothing has been done. The townspeople have done their part and they have put the town in order. They rate themselves to advertise the district and assist in the entertainment of visitors, and they have put their hands in their pockets to help to provide roads. Now it is up to the Government to do its share and put Whakarewarewa in order.

"The Rotorua district ia not only a tourist reeort. It exports ever £90,000 worth of butterfat per year. If any visitor thinks RotorUa is a dead letter or amongst the dying then he must be on the road to Join the ranks of the blind. I hope Councillor Bennett will have a better look round next time."