OPUNAKE BEACH

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 6 January 1927, Page 6

OPUNAKE BEACH

HOLIDAY VISITORS CHARGE SUGGESTION EXPLALNW) “Tile society dues nut make a charge vo: admission to die beach, but ou certain days, collections are made with the object oi providing, funds to assist in meeting and defraying the cu.si.s oi improvements.” This statement was nrade by Mr. I ■ H. H. Sinclair, 1a vice-president of the Opunake Seaside improvement Society, alien, in the absence of the president (Mr. lt_JD. Baeyertz) and secretary (Mr C. 0. Edmonds), he was interviewed by a. Star reporter yesterday with reference to the letters from “Visitor” and “Another Visitor,” published m The ; Star on Monday and Wednesday respectively. “Visitor's ’ letter expressed surprise that “a charge of Is admission was demanded” from those visiting the Opunake beach during the lioli- • days, and “Another Visitor,” writing • with reference to a trip to the beach on New Year’s Ray, stated, inter-alia : j “1 was stopped and charged for my car • load.” I “For the past four years, continued j Mi. Sinclair, “it has been the practice I of the society to station collectors on | the approaches to the beach on Boxing | Day. New Year’s Ray and the annual J fete " day and the experience has been i that visitors contribute willingly. Every [ penny received is expended by the soi ciefcy on the beach. This, 1 think, is 1 generally understood, and. if “Visitor” !' and “Another Visitor” begrudge the ! amount of their donations, thev must | surely be exceptions to the rule. Durj ing the past few years the society lias ! expended between £ISOO and £I6OO in exploiting the natural attractions of the beach and catering for the convenience of the public. Apart from the reserve rentals, members subscriptions and bathing fees, the society has no sources of revenue, and, ns the total received from those mentioned is but

a fraction of the amount required to

maintain the beach and its conveniences and carry on with the programme of improvements, the society has recourse to the use of collection boxes on the days named.”

Mr. Sinclair’s remarks were endorsed by Mr. A. Hindi, another vicepresident, who was interviewed. Mr. J. P. Burton, also spoke similarly, and in illustration of the willingness of the public to contribute towards the cost of the privileges enjoyed, instanced cases in which as much as 10s had been handed to the collectors. Dealing with* recent improvements. Mr Burton pointed out that the foottracks had been repaired and considerable draining and other work had been done on the recreation flat, which had also been planted with shelter trees and been fenced to ore vent the entry of wandering stock. Considerable expense had also been incurred recently in clearing the beach of stones, which had been washed up subsequent to their release from- the north western foreshore, when the heavy boulders were removed .as material for the harbour breakwater formation. “In keeping the beach' as free as possible from the stones, the society has greatly improved it for public, use. and I thinlc""the general public appreciate the fact that such work to get her with'other activities referred to, entail a good deal of expense,” said Mr Burton. He agreed with “Visitor'’ that it might be a good policy to advertise the purpose of the collections, but explained that, in view of the general ’recognition of fho practice on the special days, it had probably not been deemed necessary to- give public announcements. through the press. The three members of the society interviewed expressed regret that owing to temporary absence of the secretary they were unable to give detailed information as to recent expenditure bv the society. They intimated, however, that on the return of the president and secretary their attention would be drawn to the matters referred to in the letters.