NEEDS OF WHAKATANE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22318, 16 January 1936, Page 14

NEEDS OF WHAKATANE

ROAD DEVELOPMENT OYSTER FISHING INDUSTRY DISCUSSION WITH M.P.'S [by TELEGRArH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] ■WHAKATANE, "Wednesday The members of the executive committee of the Whakatane Chamber of Commerce yesterday met Messrs. A. J. Hultquist, M.P. for the Bay of Plenty, and A. F. Moncur, M.P. for Rotorua, and represented to them the more important requirements of the Whakatane district. The president, Mr. Schofield, said there was need to restrict tho trawlers coming close inshore and cleaning up the fishing grounds. Tho chamber also desired to prevent netting in Ohiwa Harbour,, and further, to have instituted some system whereby tho people could plant oysters in Ohiwa and possibly start the industry there. Mr. Moncur suggested that the chamber should also seek to foster inland fishing by advocating the removal of restrictions imposed by certain river boards in regard to oyster fishing. He advised them to obtain information regarding tho conditions obtaining at the Hawkesbury River, New South Wales.

Mr. Schofield explained that tho Government had made a back-hand promise to reopen the Murupara-Rangi-taiki Road, which would save 70 miles in the distance of travel between the Bay of Plenty and Napier. Mr. Moncur stated that he had visited • Murupara in company with the Minister of Public Works, Mr. Semple, and the settlers of the district wanted a deviation of tho road via Mongonui. This would be a shorter route and would open up large areas of good country and a large' extent of excellent totara bush. Wainui Road Deviation Mr. Schofield referred to the efforts made by the chamber and the County Council to have the Wainui Road deviated via Te Hora. He said the route ■was in' tho Opotiki County and that the council had no interest in the matter. It had now been referred to the Native Department for its consideration. The.proposed road would be constructed economically if the Unemployment Board and the Native Department assisted in the matter. It would become a splendid scenic rout© and a shorter way to'Opotiki. Mr. Hultquist replied that the Wainui settlors had already interviewed him on the . subject and he would assist in anv way possible. Mr. Moncur said the Tourist Department might be prepared to help ixi the matter, as the department was interested in, finding a route for overseas tourists who desired to view the scenery on the East Coast Road, and the Wainui Road could be made to form a tourist route linking up Cape Riinaway, Wairoa, and Waikaremoana. Whakatane-Rotorua Road "Of course, we are all interested in Having improvements made to the Rotorua Road," said Mr. Schofield, "and we are looking forward to having a better traffic outlet." Mr. Moncur said the difficulty in dealing with that road at present waß the dual control of the Public Works Department and the Tourist Department, and also the county councils interested. Tho Public Works engineer, Mr. Park, was also anxious to improve the conditon of the Whakatane-Rotorua Road, and the Minister, Mr. Langstone, had stated his intention of abolishing .such dual control.