A WELLINGTON ASSET

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 131, 30 November 1933, Page 12

A WELLINGTON ASSET

(To the Editor.)

Sir,— Wellington people are apparently waking up to the fact, that advertising pays, and have just finished a carnival with the object of bringing the country people in to the city. I am afraid in tliis the carnival was not a great success, but while the carnival was not so successful as some people had hoped for, the attempt'was at least in the right direction. Wellington is naturally a very beautiful city, and in this will compare with any town I have seen. The Oriental Parade is a charming spot which could bo made

much of, if the City Council would realise it has a. great asset here which could be made the iinest promenade in the Southern' Hemisphere. Timaru is justly proud of Caroline Bay, a«d town and country people flock thca-e from all over the South Island every summer. Napier is also proud of its Marine Parade, and iii spite of financial difficulties has money to make it the finest in New Zealand. ■■

But what about Wellington, with its huge population compared with Napier and Timaru? Here we find a town with thousands of unemployed who are being used to serve no useful purpose, and the officers are at their wits end'to find them employment on non-productive jobs. This labour could be used to beautify and improve the Oriental Parade in many ways; forming up a sandy beach along our marine front at the band rotunda, putting in dressing sheds . and other conveniences under the present wall, providing water and gas rings, building a wharf for pleasure craft out on the front, with a band rotunda at the end; beautifying the small reserve (which could probably be enlarged), and making a play area for the children. These things are all done in other centres which have not the natural beauty of Oriental Parade. Reproductive work of this kind would not only bring thousands of the city population! to this beauty spot, and thus augment tramway revenue, but it would also bring in the country people, and help swell the railway returns, at the same time creating values and business for our city.—l am, etc., T.G.L.