RESTORE ROTORUA.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 134, 8 June 1929, Page 10

RESTORE ROTORUA.

GOVERNMENT'S PLANS.

NEW SANATORIUM BLOCK. EXTENSION OF BLUE BATH. WAIROA ROAD TO BE WIDENED. (By Telegraph.—Special Reporter.) ROTORUA, this day. Promising the completion of- the Pavilion building and the extension of the Blue Bath, together with the replacement of the existing sanatorium by an up-to-date building consistent with the importance of the district and the Dominion, the Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, stated in a speech last night that the Government would do everything possible to restore to Rotorua the prestige which it formerly enjoyed.

.Sir Joseph said plans had been finally agreed upon, and settled after consultation between the Government architect and Dr. Duncan, and the Public Works Department was now working expeditioufily to complete them, so that tenders might be called for the new Pavilion folock and the Blue Bath. It was intended, owing to the delicate nature of the work, that the foundations should be constructed by the Public Works Department, which would utilise the plant at present engaged on the Dunedin Post Office foundations: The new building would be a substantial structure and in keeping with the merits of the finest health resort and mineral water region in the world. Reform Government's Neglect. "Contrast' the action ' of the present Administration with that of the previous Government, which, whilst it was in power, spent not a penny in new buildings, and allowed the existing ones to reach the last stages of decrepitude," said Sir Joseph. "It may be truly said that the 'winter of the discontent , of tlie people of Rotorua has been made 'glorious summer.' It is of the utmost importance to New Zealand to see that the "healing qualities of our mineral waters at Rotorua are made available people, not only for relief of junermg, but for restoring to the ranks

of industry those temporarily laid aside by complaints capable of cure by natural means. Improvement of Roads. "Another matter is that of improvements to the most used tourist road in the district, that is, the road to Wairoa. I have been going into this matter with the Minister of Public Works. It is estimated that to widen this road to 20ft and improve it will cost £4000, and a further sum of £3000 will be required for surfacing. I have arranged for this amount to be provided on the Public .Works Estimates and charged to the Tourist Department, and for the annual subsidy of £200 to be increased to £580, the amount estimated as the necessary contribution by the Government to the Wainiangu loop road. The Okareka Road will also have an increased subsidy provided, as well as the Ngongotaha Road, and the roads, to Okataina and Rotokawa Lakes. These are matters brought before my colleague the Minister of Public Works on his recent visit, and before me personally by correspondence. "We are going to do a great deal in Rotonia. During the last two years the place has been neglected, and. the activities of the Tourist Department throughout the country have been neglected, but we are not going to neglect it. _ We are going to put Rotonia in a condition that will fulfil what was originally intended."