TOURISTS AND GAMES.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15767, 7 December 1916, Page 5

TOURISTS AND GAMES.

CHARGES AT HEALTH RESORTS. EXPLANATION BY THE MINISTER. (SPECIAT, TO "THE PRESS.") DL'NEDIN, December 6. The Tourist and Health Resorts Department decided some time ago to increase, for this season, the tariff for recreative games on the State's grounds at the principal resorts, such as Queenstown, Rotorua, and Tc Aroha. j The decision has caused considerable resentment. It has been recognised for several years that t'«c fact that tourists could obtain, say, a good game of bowls on a green amidst picturesque surroundings, as at Qucwf-town, was a special attraction to hundreds ot tourists. Dr. McNab informed a >»tar' representative that these rates had been increased equally all over .New Zealand. As regards Queenstown, the revenue from the recreation grounds, particularly the bowling green, has not been paying expenses, so the Department was compelled, especially in these days when economy must be considered and practised, to adopt the policy common to every bowling or sporting club in the Dominion. In other words, the tariff had to be fixed at a standard to pav working expenses. The" Minister, who is a keen bowler, savs emphatically that the'new charges still leave the State greens at tourist resorts much cheaper than the cost of play at the average club grounds. In addition, the State provides the bowls, whereas in private clubs a member usuallv lias to pay a subscription of two guinea* and provide his own bowk. The mere fact that tho green at Queenstown is a State institution and as agreeable attraction to tourists,, cannot be made a reason why the general taxpayer should bo called upon to help to pay for the games of tourists and holiday-makers. Apart from thataspect of the question, it is absolutely necessary at present that every pound that can be saved should be saved, so that more pressing requirements may receive adequate attention.