CAMPS FOR MOTORISTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19061, 4 July 1925, Page 10 (Supplement)

CAMPS FOR MOTORISTS.

FORWARD MOVE NEEDED.

SITES IN COUNTRY TOWNS.

Mr. O. M. Fowlds, vice-president of the Now Zealand Tourist League, writes as follows:

This Dominion is just beginning to experience an extension of touring and camping out by motorists, such as has swept over the-.United Slates and Canada during the past few years. Thi? is going to be of more interest to business men, particularly in the smaller centres, than appears at ,first sight. With the lowered price of cars and the general improvement of our roads, more and more people will tour tlio country, and carry their own equipment with them. '.I his is going to givo enjoyment to more families, because stopping at hotels under existing conditions makes it prohibitive to do much travelling for those ot limited

means. In 1924 it was estimated that 10,uU0,UbU American;, went on tour by motor-car, spending £500,000,000, and in tho majority ol cases carried their own equipment and made use ol the many earning grounds now being provided by every pugioasive city. Last summei season there w«i ; > a most noticeable increase in tne number ol motoiists in the Noun isiaial carrying camping outfits. in order to adequately taiie care of this growing cia:>s ol traveller, the New Zealand tourists League is urging towns to set aside areas tor tno use ot tourists. In response LO this suggestion camping sites are already available at lauranga, Te Aroha and ie Kuiti. In tlio two former places electricity is laid on and water and sanitary conveniences are available. Rotorua and a number of other pjaco are looking round to see what land or reserves can be opened up in this way. it is not necessary at tno stait u provide expensive buildings, which can bo erected gradually as tne trathe grows, and when provided would justiiy tno making of a small charge. ' The Minister for Lauds has expressed his interest this movement, and has offered to consider the reservation of areas of Crown lands along the highways in tho moro unsettled parts of tho Dominion. Once the idea is seen to be a Poetical one it will spread like wild-fire throughout tho land. Just to show why business men should bo interested in this matter, I shall quote what happened at Ie Kuiti where a number of motorists have already made use of an attractive ground set apart on the banks of a stream wi beautiful native bush surrounding it. A partv camped there with the idea of staying a day or two, and liked it so much that thev spent a fortnight visiting the interesting points in the neighbourhood. . One day tho lady of the party went into the township and spent £2O at tho local draper's. Many classes of retailers are Koine to benefit .from motorists on tour, and thev should use their influence with their local chamber of commerce and borough council to set aside a camping area of a few acres as soon as possible. In America the business people and tho local authorities have come to appreciate tho value of encouraging motoiists to stop over, and now hundreds or cities have camps equipped with all sorts of conveniences. In some places visitors can park without any payment, and in others a small charge of about 2s per car per night is mado. The privileges vary accordingly, but many of these camping grounds are bringing in remarkable returns which, in nearly all cases, are expended on -•improvements. In Seattle, Oregon, a city with a population of 250,C00, .a camp holding 400 cavs is Available, with Water' ' firewood, drain- . age. electricity, hot and cold -baths, a community social hall, children i. plavground, laundry, electric irons, sewing machine and gramophone. The charge made is only 2s a night, and a stay of ten days is 'the usual limit allowed. Tn thf> summer season of six months of 1924 8798 cars were registered from 50 dif- , ferent states and countries. In 1922 the receipts were £5198. and the maintenance costs for two gate keepers, a janitor, and two hoys to clean up were £823, while £4194 was spent on further improvements. In addition. £4OOO has since been spent on a community social lie.ll. The leading business and social organisations of the city put such stress on offering hospitality tn'these visitors within their crates that during the season 180 entertainments were held at which leading artists gave their services.

Naturally, when a community gives such attention and provides such facilities it is a splendid advertismont, and its fame i? spread far and wide. Even viewing the matter from the mercenary standpoint onlv. it is going to pay any town well to make provision for tourists. No great-loss can be made, because tho land and buildings could be resold and improvements can be made gradually. What country can offer the variety of pcenerv that New Zealand possesses ? It is health-giving and educative, piirsnre for people to travel in their own land. The forward-looking people in every progressive town should moye their Ircal authority to reserve and equip a camping ground for motor touvists.

MAIN ROADS. Shore Eoad, Remuora.—Residents of Itemuera, who have been accustomed to use Ayro Street and Shore Road for access to Remuera, in preference to the tram route through Newmarket, ore finding the broken state of Shore Road a very substantial reason for not using it. If it is the policy of the civic authorities to divert as much traffic as possible from crowded thoroughfares some useful service would bo performed by putting this road into good order. North Auckland Roads.—The main road to under water in places near Waimauku On Wednesday, though cars were able to get through. Tho clay roads in the Korth Auckland district, however, arc in an extremely bad condition as a result of the recent rains. Robertson Road, Mangere.—The reconstruction of this road on the bitumen penetration system is making slow progress owing to intermittent rainy weather. Over two-thirds of the road has been completed, but the remainder can only be finished during stretches of dry Weather. Massey Road, Mangere.—This road, which is the longer way round from Mangere 12! idgc to Otahuim, has long been tar-sealed for tho greater part of its length. Thero remains, however, a stretch of macadam road, situated about the middle oi its length, which could well stand improvement. By order of the new engineer to tho Manukati County Council. liberal dumps of fino metal have been deposited on tho roadside in wait for the spring, when a start will bo made to tar-seal the remainder. Pukekoho-Waiuku.—This metalled road was becoming seriously pitted with potholes, but these are now being filled in with now metal, and tho road is again piving comfortable travelling. Awakino Valley Road.—ln spite of the heavy rains during the week tho road to New Plymouth via tho Awakino Valley is reported to bo in good condition. For ten miles south of tho Mokau River, whore tho road has been surfaced with bitumen, excellent travelling may bo had. Between 60 and 70 men are at work ou Iho route ik