SIMPLY DRIFTING

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 10, 12 January 1929, Page 10

SIMPLY DRIFTING

NEGLECTED ROTORUA UTILISING WASTE LANDS HOLIDAY BIPEESSJMS Finishing up, a.< somewhat arduous season of touring, camping, and saltwater fishing ■ at'• ■Timranga, Councillor H. D. Bennett arrived back in the city with a grouch against the unkind elements, the lot of-alLmbtorists who ventured out for the holiday- season. A keen observer !of- ;things ■ and events, Mr. Bennett did,, not fail to notice things during his.travels, To a "Post" reporter he made some interesting comments. ' To 'one interested, in the disposal of primary 'products, Mr. Bennett-said,he was naturally interested in tho development of land and the reclamation of the large areas of waste lands still abounding, especially in tho middle belt of the North Island. As a lad he could remember the great stretch of land running .from the sea on the East Coast, including the Bay of Plenty itself, right across-the middle of the Island to within forty miles' of the West Coast. ■. Not ' even rabbits lived in this great area-forty years ■fe FUTURE FARM LANDSi "The pioneer .-has'-much, to ;liis' credit, very much more than is given him," said Mr. Bennett. "Let'anyone hesitating about the -wisdom, of granting old-age and other pensions meditate on the lot of many hundreds of the recipients of these pensions—but that is another story. This great, area is rapidly advancing; and taking its place in tho ranks -of New Zealand's great potential'reserves. .-'.'l think the Government might well.materially increase the activity of the State department at present engaged, in; opening out the wasteland in and around the Taupo and Waimarind,districts, even at. the expense of' curtailing, if that is tho only alternative,'; of tree planting and afforestation annual ' . appropriations. There in the'midst of sheer desolation tho Prisons and Health Departments, aided by a very limited allotment from the Consolidated Fund, is buildiiig. an asset of incalculable value for-the'gen-erations.' to' come, and.'incidentally making for a flock of .the-: proverbial hens in the State fowl run. ■ Proof beyond doubt is now.available that;with judicious expenditure of State capital many hundreds of families can be 'successfully placed in a territory previously considered worthless;.ll .'

---... Eef erring ; generally to -farming, Mr. Bennett said > that with over thirtyyears of farming-,'experience, he could not remember a\ better -year for all classes of the farming community. As should be expected,* this prosperity was reflected throughout the; country during the big shopping; days at. Christmas. Wherever oiie- inquired' the report was the same-—big shopping. ../. KOTORVA IN A BAD WAY. ■ Mr. Bennett'spent,a'few-days at the height: of the:, season at that famous tourist resort,- Eotorua.''.. He' agreed with criticism , recently" made ; concerning the conditions- extant,'and .thought tliat for far: tobi long: the Government had neglected:: to .-appreciate fully the potential value 'to';the 1 ebuhtry-of its one big star film.', „.■.': -." ; .• ;• ' "As an investment 1 the :.State could, not do better,;, than-attack-this great resort, after the .stylo- of American or Continental \boosters,'^.-'said- Mr 'Bennett. "Money left.in;this country by tourists,is In" every ;>vay equal to the : proceeds from: the: sale of national products. . New Zealand, it is true, could i boast' of many attractions ,in: both islands, but one-cannot: deny that, the thermal regions■• offer the 'best medium for- spectacular 'attraction.:. -■> .- ■-. "Up to. afew years ago Botoruawas what was:known,as a Government.township. There->was; then iio : local controlling body., .-The old-Seddon and Ward Governments grappled with the possibilities, . and ■..' incidentally created the famous Bath House,,, and-made the Sanatorium grounds. With ,the . advent of local- control by ,way of a municipality, : Eotorua -has; been; 'allowed^by the':, State... to., drift. ; ■ -To-day *it is not too ' much ;to *say ; that, it is a wash-out. '. ' . FAMOUS ONLY FOR ITS • REPUTATION. "Only long memories will recall the great evening gatherings in the sana-. torium grounds with the .band at"the rotunda, the -aquatic . carnivals, and other festivo attractions'. Except for a local and feeble • attempt at a motor procession on New' Year's Eve, an illorganised stunt';not exclusive to that town, a visitor , : c6ncludes that Eotorua' is famous only for:'its reputation. ■ ' , "A couple ;of years, or so ago this country was included in the itinerary of the Carintliia'and.the Franconia, two floating castles filled.-with American tourists ready and willing to spend by the thousand..''Those and similar ships are still doing, the world, but, alas, New Zealand is cut, out. ; : : ; :' . : . It is of-little avail, disposing of the circumstances,: :by;'a shrug, of the, shoulders. We have .the: goods, but there is no window display, and if Rotorua to-day■'is an, example the Franconia will, not corrie back. FISHING CENTRE MOVES. "Trout .fishing,;.- ..at, one " -.'period synonymous ;with the.-.name of Eotorua and itself a- great-draw, is slowly but surely transferring itself to Taupo. Nobody bothers much ; about ..fishing at

Eotorua 'now, and one is. prompted to inquire tho reason. Lake launches at one time counted by the dozen have similarly disappeared. Lake trips arc things of tho past. 'It's not done now' is the only answer one: gets. "The same cannot be said of Taupo and its beautiful lake and rivers. Of recent years this resort has, deyeloped in spite of paternal neglect on the part of tho State. It may safely be predicted that with the completion of the Roto-rua-Taupo railway, at which there are at present hundreds of ■ men'engaged in earthworks, Taupo will be a new, star— ■ further menacing the prospects ahead of Eotorua." • ' ■ For a camping tour, at holiday time Mr. Bennett recommends quarters on the shores of Lake .Taupp at: any. point between Taupo,and Tokaanu. An outboard, engine and a dinghy places the world at your feet. "That is where I am going next time," ■ concluded; Mr. Bennett. . . .".-.-•'■■ .. , '".-