TOURIST RESORTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 815, 12 May 1910, Page 6

TOURIST RESORTS.

ROTORUA AND MOUNT COOK. STATEMENT BY THE EON. T. MACKENZIE. . (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Auckland May 11." Some interesting remarks regarding the policy now being pursued by the Tourist Department in regard •to Rotorua were made by the Hon. Thomas Mackenzie, Minister for Tourists-Resorts, in reply to a deputation that waited upon liim at Rotorua in respect to questions of additional improvements and conveniences there. Mr. Mackenzie stated that he desired to work with the people of Rotorna in increasing the attractiveness of the district' In regard to the question of charges at AVhakarewarewa, they had reached a period in the history of the Tourist Department when 6ome returns lunsf; be expected, especially when these returns were to be'devoted to the purpose of beautifying the immediate vicinity. Last year when the bath-house staff was reorganised, great exception was taken to his retiring several employees. The results had been, satisfactory in that in this one bath-house'alone there had been an economy of ,£SOO a year .together with an increased revenue of JJIOOO. The people of Canterbury had complained by way of contrast to what had been done at Rotorua that little had been done for Mount Cook, a place which, in his opinion, would 'in the future, by reason of its unparalleled grandeur, and because it possessed by far the best and most .magnificent glaciers in the temperate regions, attract as many sightseers as Botorua would do. Yet how did Mount Cook fare at the present time They had not even a good supply of cold water. They h;v neither bowling greens nor tennis lawns, and the present edifice was ill situated, uninviting, and old; There was a magnificent site within-a ,, short distance that should be, when funds are available, used for a comfortable chateau, and when they linked up the eastern and western system of roads on tho Southern Alps a great result will ensue. In reverting to the question of expenditure at Rotorua, Mr. Mackenzie remarked that it was strange, if it be true as asserted, that the Government was unpopular at Rotorua when it was remembered that, out of the earnings arising from the baths by reason of publio expenditure the town was relieved of all rates except for water and lighting, and that the rent values had increased to the fortunate holders of land there by an average of 800 per cent., thus enabling many people to now live comfortably on the profits of. their sections.