TE AROHA DOMAIN

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15035, 5 September 1922, Page 6

TE AROHA DOMAIN

A BID FOR DECREASED CHARGES. BY THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. For some time a Te Aroha business man has been trying to negotiate a lease of the grounds and buildings comprising the Domain, from the Tourist Department. For years the Domain has been running at a loss, to the tune of from £3O to £4O a week, so in order to assist the Government in ' Its effort to raise money to carry on, the offer made would save the country something like £2OOO a year. The Te Aroha Chamber of Commerce, having read a notice in the Times of an individual offer having been made, passed a resolution to the effect that the Department be approached with the suggestion that if it intended to dispose of the Domain, that the local authorities have the first offer to control it. However, a reply has been received from the Minister that it is not intended to dispose of the grounds at present. It is generally debated that if railway fares were reduced, people would be Induced to travel. As matters stand, a train of eight cars, on any day of the week, say from Hamilton to Te Aroha, Is only occupied in carrying a handful of travellers. Under those conditions it is impossible to make any tourist resort pay. The Te Aroha Chamber of Commerce has also decided" to approach the Department respecting a reduction in the charges for games and baths. Practically the same staff was engaged last season when the prices were raised by 50 per cent, and in spite of the revenue having been lessened by a large sunh There are thousands of gallons 'of mineral waters running to waste in the Domain, which would be readily availed of, and as a consequence the health of the community would be Improved, if only the old rates were adhered to.