DEVELOPMENT OF LAKE SUMNER

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29262, 21 July 1960, Page 15

DEVELOPMENT OF LAKE SUMNER

Another Move By Progress League Development of Lake Sumner as a tourist and holiday resort must come in the future, Mr A. R. Blank told the Canterbury Progress League’s council last evening. “One of the beauty spots of New Zealand, it is lying there undeveloped and the whole population of Canterbury is debarred from enjoying its scenery by the non-co-operation of two runholders and the Government,” said Mr Blank. Representations were made to the National Government during its last term of office but permission to sell sections around the lake was refused, he said. “That was one of my greatest disappointments. We were not asking for money. We were making it. The sale of sections would have provided sufficient money for forming the seven miles of road to make the lake accessible. Rates on the sections would have paid the maintenance on the road,” said Mr Blank.

“Money that should be coming into Canterbury from holidaymakers and fishermen is at present going to Otago and Southland. I can think of no better body to develop the lake than this league,” he said. The league’s president (Mr C. A. Inch) suggested that Mr Blank re-form his Lake Sumner committee and that ideas for future representations to the Government be assembled.