THE SOUTHERN LAKES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18899, 27 June 1923, Page 4

THE SOUTHERN LAKES.

AN OTAGO DEPUTATION. SYMPATHETIC MINISTERIAL REPLY. (Feom Odb Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Juno 26,_ This morning a deputation inspired oy the Otago Expansion League waited on tiie Minister-in-ohaxge of 'tourist Resorts (the Hon. W. Nosworthy) with reference to tourist facilities in connection with the southern lakes. The Minister of Public Works (the lion. J. G. Coates), the Undersecretary (Mr F. W. Furkett), and Mr Wilson ('lourist Department), were also present. Mr Sicley said it was alleged that tourist agents in the North Island were inclined to depreciate the southern tour to visiting tourists through reefreuces to the coldness of the climate. Exception was taken to the expression “cold lakes.” Repairs were badly wanted to the Milford track, which should be put in order before next season. Repairs were needed to bridges on the road from Manapouri to Lake 'to Anau. The accommodation house at Te Anau should be improved. The tracks near Lake Wakatipu. were a great national asset, and in anticipation of heavy tourist traffic at the time of the Exhibition they should be made passable. * Mr Horn said that Sutherland’s accommodation house at Milford Sound and the huts at Sandfly Point were uncomfortable foe tourists ou account of sandflies. Tin, restoration of the accommodation at Sutherland’s was badly needed. The most desirable feature of tourist provision was the restoration of the round trip by Roes Valley to the lake, down by Pyke’s Creek, and the improvement of the road for motor traffic. A deal of work had already been done. For two years the students of Otago University had been employed there. Portion of the track from the now bridge across the Earnslaw Stream to Paradise, connecting with the new road, was in bad repair, and needed about £IOO to put it in order. Since 1914 very little had been done, but as times were now normal ho hoped that a considerable improvement would be effected in this great asset to the dominion’s tourist resorts. Mr do la Perrelle referred to this resort as one of the finest in the world. The approaches to Manapouri and Te Anau were atrocious, and unless something was done urgently the next tourist season would be very seriously interfered with. He hoped that arrangements could bo made by which the Government steamer could take passengers to Stewart Island. The only present means of crossing was by the tug, which was not comfortable or suitable for the traffic. Owing to its behaviour in rough seas many people were disinclined to make the trip across unless better steamer accommodation was forthcoming. He would like to see the Government advertise our tourist resorts in the Home papers to encourage foreign money to be spent in the country. Mr J. C. Thomson said the deputation was not. there to boost any particular district, but to develop what was undoubtedly a magnificent national asset. The department was thoroughly conversant with all the facts. There was trout and salmon fishing, and the beauties of Manapouri and Te Anau were unrivalled. Mr de la Perrelle had opened a new track and disclosed some hitherto unknown scenic wonders. The Minister of Public Works, replying to the speaker in February, had said the department had a comprehensive scheme to put the roads in order. The county council would not do anything. The Minister: That is not altogether fair to the Government. It is a serious handicap when the council will not help, and after all it is in its own district. Mr Thomson : The council repudiates responsibility. saying that it is a national road and that all the income from that part of the country is from runs. Mr Edio said the manager - of the motor transport service offered to give him a free ride to the lakes to illustrate the need for improving the road. The speaker considered that it was not the duty of the county council to assist, ns the roads were vised mainly by tourists from Westland to Riverton. There was a huge never-chang-ing panorama of scenic wonders. There was a great doer park, and some of the American deer were now being shot during the season. Salmon were developing and the Wild River was on its own. He assured the Minister that he did not wish to dis-’ parage the north in any sense whatever. The Minister: Don’t forget that I represent the south. Mr Thomson: I hope you will move the Cabinet to make a much more substantial vote. Mr Munro pleaded on behalf of the working man for an opportunity to see the beauties of the south. If money were voted for these roads it would achieve that purpose, and it would add to their education. If the people could see this wonderful scenery it would assist in bringing the people into touch, with the higher life, and mankind generally would profit on the inos of education and travel. The vote for •scenic resorts should be one of the most popular items of expenditure. He was sure the Minister would not bo subjected to any adverse criticism for his action in promoting it. The Minister, in reply, said that the principal matter to be dealt with at the present was the road from The Keys to Te Anau and from. The Keys to Manapouri. How much’ money he would be able to get was another question. There were tremendous calls on the Government; but he would leave no stone unturned to get what he could from the Minister of Finance. - A good deal had been done by him (Mr Nosworthy) to the Manapouri’ie Anau track, and last year ho got the telephone wire reinstated. He was led to believe that the track was not so bad last year as regards Sandfly Point. It wa« only a year ago that the Government on his recommendation bought Mr Sutherland’s property, and ho had now called for plans for a new building. When he could get the accommodation house built was another thing. He recognised the need for getting something done. It was a vindication of his statement that he had nor been so slow. The track between George Sound and Manapouri was leased, and the lessee undertook to keep the track in good order The Minister understood that it was kept in pretty good order, and the Government had given some £2O or £3O towards the huts. It was the lessee’s business to say when he would do them. With regard to the steamer accomodation at Te Anau and Manapouri, the Government had spent some money in repairing the vessels, especially in regard sto the engines and other things. In connection with the tracks from Wakatipu to Milford Sound, the department had been doing as much as it could with the money available. _ He fully recognised the importance of this work so as to make a good connection between Te Anau, Milford Sound, and Lake Wakatipu. That was what the department had in view, and it would do it when the money was available. He was aware of the importance of fixing up the road up between The Keys and the two lakes. There were a number of works he had in view in regard to the bridges on the Milford track. Ho was proposing to put them in passable order for the coming season. As to Mr Sidey’s remarks regarding the tourist agents in the north throwing cold water on the southern trips, there was no doubt that these lakes had been known as the cold lakes because there was a great deal of difference between the ■climate of the north and the south, but shat was no reflection on the south, and ■though he had made many inquiries he fcad never been able to sheet home to any tourist agent in the north that they had endeavoured to decry the southern trip. i-\8 a matter of fact, it was to the interest of the department to get tourists to travel as much us possible in the dominion. There might be some neople who did that thing. . hut it was not fair to say that the tourist agents were guilty of it. During the three and a-half years that ho had been in charge of the department he had never been able to find any tourist agent who had decried the southern trips or that tourists had not been encouraged to go south. Whether or not he could get enough money to do the Wakatipu track he would not yet say, but he was getting a comprehensive report bn the subject, and he had already put in a requisition for a considerable amount of work to be done, but there wore many such things that would, have to wait in view of more important works that had to he undertaken. There would be no delay on his part or on the part of the department in doing all that it was possible to do. On behalf of the deputation Mr Sidey thanked the Minister for what he had told them. ■The Minister pointed out that he had Borne diffidence m asking for money for some of the works, seeing that the local bodies had refused to do anything. Mr Horn said that if the Government made a contribution for roads the Lake County Council would bo glad to give a. subsidy. The Minister said there had been two grants of £ for £ made by the Government jji the Te Anau district, but the county . council had not made a move, and therefore tho Government could do nothing.