LAKE FISHERIES

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 February 1937, Page 4

LAKE FISHERIES

DEVELOPMENT SCHEMES. [PER pbksb association.] WELLINGTON, February 16. After an inspection of the work of the Game and Fisheries branch of tlie Department of Internal Affairs in the lakes district of the noith, the Hon. W. E. Parry, Minister for Internal Affairs, returned to 'Wellington convinced that much remained to be done in opening up for the peoples enjoyment further extensive territory m Rotorua and Taupo. The Minister travelled with executive officers of the Department over some lakes and livers which, because of their not having been developed for utilisation, would, he said, probably not be familiar even to very many New Zealanders who made frequent visits to Rotorua and Taupo. . . The functions of the Department of Internal Affairs, with which were allied the activities of the Tourist and Publicity Department, already embraced a wide interest in the country s attractions for the people, and he hoped that with his colleagues whose departments were affected, greater effoi ts than in the past would be mad to bring about the full and proper development of those valuable attractions. “It is not novel to hear New Zealand as a country extolled from all angles bv visitors from abroad,” he said, “but I do not think our own people quite appreciate all the good things which make their land the envy of other countries. I met in my travels many overseas people out here for sight-seeing, fishing, and all-round enjoyment. They were emphatic in theii remarks that we had everything to offer them to meet the most fastidious tastes, and surprise was expressed that New Zealanders themselves were not. making full use of the attractions Hi the way the people of the visitors' countries would make use of them had they the same advantages. New Zealand’s scenic beauties, they said, charmed them. The fisheries gave them the maximum thrills and excitement, with all the sunshine and brightness of the atmosphere in a wonderful climate, which brought them back to good health.” The Minister said that he had seen many well-con-ditioned fish being proudly carried along scrub-covered tracks from lakes and rivers by anglers who had caught them.

“If we can keep up that standard of lish,” Mr. Parry said, "all interested will have reason to feel satisfied. “Lt was to ascertain what further methods the Department ol Internal Affairs could adopt, quite apart, from the work which the Fish Research Department is now engaged on. that I devoted a good deal of my time and investigations," said the Minister. “There tire many problems yet to solve, but I am hopeful that my visit will enable an impetus to be given to the quick development on the lines decided on.”