SOUTHERN LAKES

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 22, 26 July 1945, Page 8

SOUTHERN LAKES

I RESORT FOR TOURISTS

DEVELOPMENT PLANS

The development of the South Island t tourist attractions and the establishment of the 'new Southern Lakes accli- ; matisation district, which is to be controlled by the Department of Internal Affairs, were referred to today by the Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr. l Parry). who said an Order in Council had been issued defining the boundaries iof the new district. The nucleus was : the previously existing Lakes acclimai fcation district, but it also included ■ portion of the contiguous districts of ; Westland, Otago, and Southland. 1 "The oiler of the former society asking the Government to take over this ' area was gladly accepted," said Mr. Parry, "as it was intended to spend • a considerable sum in tourist develop- . merit in the South Lakes area, and '■ the facilities available through the ' acclimatisation district will be a welcome adjunct to the many other ■ scenic attractions." ,The Minister ■ compared the new district with its : North Island counterpart, the Rotorua- ■ Taupo area, which, he said, had for some years been under the control of 1 the same Department. Extending from Bruce Bay in the I north to the southern end of the South • Island and lying between the West • Coast, and in the east along a general line from the vicinity of Mount Cook down the division between the mountainous hinterland and the lowlands of Southland and Otago, it was essentially a land of mountains, glaciers, rivers, lakes, and forests. The waters carried a wide range of acclimatised species of fish and the shooting enthusiast was assured of a varied bag of game. Although the formal taking over would not eventuate until September 1 next, said the Minister, much'preliminary work had been done as it was realised that unless an early start was made any appreciable improvement would not result next year. The fields had to be surveyed, the existing hatchery and other accommodation had to be improved, but. everything was now in" readiness for future activities. EXPERIMENT AND RESEARCH. The rivers here, being glaciei fed. were extremely cold and subject to high flood? during the thaw, carrying with them much glacier silt. In consequence they did not lend themselves to a high rate of survival in the fish population and that imposed the necessity for intensive artificial restocking. That point was well realised by the authorities and much research and experiment would have to take place before the problems were satisfactorily solved. It was confidently felt that science and energetically applied human effort could increase the productivity of the lakes, riverbeds, and waters, and sportsmen could rest assui'ed that no stone would be left un- : turned to improve conditions gener- : ally. There was ample ground for optimism regarding the future development of the district as a sportsman's paradise and it would be a welcome adjunct to the unrivalled scenic beauties of the area. "The acquisition of this district, together with the tourist activity which is to take place, will assist in putting 1 the South Island on the map and i should be welcomed by those who for so long have pressed the claims of the southern people in the belief that they 1 had not had their full share of the ■ tourist traffic, a traffic which, in pbst--1 war years, will undoubtedly become ■ one of our major industries," concluded the Minister.