PAEKAKARIKI BEACH

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 150, 28 June 1938, Page 10

PAEKAKARIKI BEACH

WELLINGTON LUNGS

MINISTER'S AMBITION

Saying that he recognised the difficulty that must always exist in and about Wellington city and suburbs in the provision of suitable recreation areas, the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry) expressed his belief to the annual meeting of the Wellington Beautifying Society last evening that Paekakariki Beach represented the real "lungs" of Wellington, and should be developed in a systematic way. The Minister said that some might consider his idea ambitious, but he would like to see those miles of beautiful beach developed systematically and made very healthy for the future of the children. The scheme would cost money, but he felt that the money that was spent would be saved in the public hospitals of Wellington and elsewhere. He knew what he would like to do if he had a free hand. He believed that the area should be obtained by the public, and the whole of the beach, for a certain number of chains, belong to the people of the Wellington district. There should be 500 or 600 acres of land, and if work were started properly the site would not be recognised in twelve months. Behind the beach could be a beautiful! recreation, ground on which all forms of games could be played. There would be electric trains and a beautiful road to provide access. Mr. Parry was asked what the response of ratepayers would be to a loan of, say, £100,000, when loans for two small schemes in Oriental Bay