BUSINESS OF PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, 26 July 1929, Page 11

BUSINESS OF PARLIAMENT

FURTHER MEASURES APPEAR

CLAIMS FDR TOURIST TRAFFIC. • ’ MEMBERS SPEAK FOR DISTRICTS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. ' The Christ’s College- (Canterbury) Bill, in the House of Representatives to. day, was put through the committee stage with formal amendments not altering the intent of the Bill. It was then read a third time and passed, t Notice was given of intention to in-, (troduce the following Bills: —Sumner Land Vesting Bill (Mr. J. McCombs), Christchurch Electricity and General Empowering Bill (Mr. D. G. Sullivan), Christchurch City Reserves Act Amendment Bill (Mr. 11. T. Armstrong), Auck- . land Suburban Drainage Amendment Bill (Mr. M. J. Savage). Th© Timaru Borough Empowering Bill (the Rev. C. Carr) was introduced and read a firs. time. Replying to Mr. G. Black, Sir Josephs Ward said he wished to enter a protest 'against the brevity of the report of the speech of the Minister of Education in a Wellington morning newspaper and stated he expected the speech would hay© received, similar treatment in certain other metropolitan newspapers. Speaking on the presentation of th© report of the Tourist and Health Resorts Department, Mr. J. G. Coates said there was a great deal of interest in what would be the Government’s policy in the development of tourist traffic. He ' considered it should be progressive but not too ambitious. ,It was mor© desirable to carry out the work thoroughly J on fewer attractions than to spend, money on merely partial development in. many places. He advocated making a>; determined effort to develop Rotorua •; morn thoroughly, and suggested the construction of a road to Milford Sound. It might pay as a commercial undertak* ing to spend £1,000,000 on roads and other means of popularising the tourist resorts, of . which he mentioned, several which "he considered unrivalled in the world. ' Mr. J. O’Brien entered a plea for tne development of access to the scenic attractions of WestlandMr. S. G. Smith said he did not asK for large sums of money to be spent on the development of Taranaki’s resorts, but he thought that province should b$ given its fair share and should be recommended in common with others for inspection by visitors. Mr. IV. E. Parry referred to the. attractions and historical associations of Kawau Island, which was the home of Sir George Grey, and asked the Government to protect it against possible disfigurement. > z ATTRACTION OF ROTORUA.

Mr. C. H. Clinkard said he had always ' held the view that tourists should first J be attracted to New Zealand by Koto- t ; rua with a view to their, remaining then, or coming again, to tour the rest of tho country. He advocated the provision of i camping and bath facilities at Taupo . which, he was confident, was destined to t he a great motoring centre. The cura- , tive properties of Rotorua’s natural re- • sources had been neglected in the past. Mr. A. M. Samuel said he considered tho Tourist Department did not give sufficient attention to the attractions of \ other than the best known resorts. He referred to Coromandel. A motor tour from Thames to Coromandel and Mercury Baj r would provide scenery unequalled in the Dominion and only comparable with the French and Italian Riviera. Mr. F. Langstone referred to the claim's of the National Park, which he ... described as the best mountaineering locality in the North Island. Mr. H. R. Jenkins opposed the suggestion that the Milford Track should be prepared for motor trips as he cansidered the walk was part of the attraction. He added, however, that ho considered the track had been neglected and that - the equipment was not satisfactory. Mr. C. E. MacMillan referred to the ocean beach attractions, of the Bay’ of Plenty and to the unique qualities of White Island. Mr. D. G. Sullivan advocated the provision of facilities to bring the tourist resorts more within the reach of the working people. . L The- national aspect of the subject was r mentioned by Mr. W. J. Broadfoot, who said whether the tourist visited North Cape or Bluff the people there should ur<*e him to see the rest of the country. Ho° suggested the formation of a select committee to deal with the whole ject of tourist services. • . 4 Mr W H Field asked for assistance - in adding to the safety, of crossing the. Tararua Ranges, the alpine and forest scenery of which he praised. Improvements in the road from Timaru to the Mount Cook. Hermitage • were saught by the Rev. C. Carr, while Mr. Makitanara spoke on the general aspect , of the subject. . ... • The report was talked out at tn® dinner adjournment.