Lake Sumner tours criticised

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32775, 27 November 1971, Page 19

Lake Sumner tours criticised

A proposal by a Christchurch travel company to run one-day tours to Lake Sumner; has been criticised by Miss J. H. Thomson, president of the Uni-i versity of Canterbury Conservation Society.

“I read, with a real sense t jof loss and disgust, an ad-h vertisement concerning an ( inaugural ‘adventure’ trip to , Lake Sumner. Perhaps this i piece of unadulterated coun- 1 I try will also be lost for ever —and to what purpose?” . I Miss Thomson said. “I feel that the Government has its priorities in the wrong place when it allows one company to capitalise on this land, which should bei long to every person in New I Zealand. The area at Lake j Sumner is still relatively I peaceful, but I imagine that from now on it will be polluted by tourists who think the land is cute,” she said. The New Zealand public

was being hoodwinked into believing that tourism was financially and culturally beneficial, Miss Thomson said. The truth—which was that the wealth was fed back to pamper the tourist by providing luxury hotels—was hidden from the public. “We as New Zealanders cannot, on the average, consider the cost of such tours and holidays, but we must sit and watch our country and cul-

ture turn us into objects ot [acquisition,” she said. “Perhaps we shall look next time at an advertisement for the premiere of the new opening of a gambling casino at Lake Sumner,” Miss Thomson said. Mr B. H. Hamilton, managing director of Alpine Safari Tours, the firm running the tours, said his firm has found a demand for a tour into Lake Sumner, both from New Zealand and overseas visitors. “As a tour operator of the outback, my firm has spent many years in building up a reputation, both with Government departments and runholders, for leaving our resting areas scrupulously clean,’* Mr Hamilton said.

“Lake Sumner is a public road and free for all to use,” he said. “Many people either too old to drive or who have no car would like to visit this beauty spot. “Both New Zealand and overseas visitors would be insulted by the remarks of Miss Thomson referring to this tourist ‘pollution’,” Mr Hamilton said. The Conservator of For-

ests in Christchurch (Mr J. W. Levy) said that the Forest Service administered an area north-west and east of the lake, but this did not include the lake itself. It was quite clear that the tours would not be entering the Lake Sumner Forest Park. The Commissioner of Crown Lands (Mr G. Mollett) said he knew nothing about the proposed tours. However, he planned to make inquiries in view of the fact that the tours would probably be crossing pastoral lands.