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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9404, 10 January 1894, Page 4

The subject of • the fees charged by natives; ;in the 1 Kbtdr,ua district ~ has frequently been discussed.- Be it understood that the Maoris charge simply for allowing visitors to comet near enough to view-the wonderful natural phenomena of these hot'springs and geysers. It would be better for them if they got nothing, for the receiving money in this way simply pauperises and debases them. They, get into the habit of depending upon this amalgam of begging and extortion, and they cea-se working, and neglect all honest means of living. They hang* round the hotels, watching tourists, and 'taking care never to be out of the way of obtaining s drinks. However, our object at present is not to discuss the effects of this easily-got money > on .the moral condition of the Maoris.' Nobody would object to the natives obtaining reasonable fees from visitors. But our Kotorua correspondent, informs us that the Tikitere natives have met and determined to ! raise the fees for seeing that place by 100 per cent. . They have been charging 2s for a look at Tikitere, and now they are to charge 4s. At Waiotapu, the natives charge 6s for. every person who enters the valley. Ministers have several times determined to Eut an end to this system of extortion, ut somehow they do not seem to succeed. The natives continue to demand what they like, and in return for the money they rive no service or return whatever. The remedy is quite plain, and that is, to make public roads to all these places, so that the natives could not demand fees, or obstruct visitors. Many who would like to visit these places are prevented by this vague system of charging. And even wealthy tourists object to being plundered and swindled, which spoils for them the enjoyment of the scenery. The remedy lies in making reads, and that should be done as soon sis possible.