MARUIA SPRINGS MENTIONED IN PARLIAMENT

Grey River Argus, 9 October 1948, Page 7

MARUIA SPRINGS MENTIONED IN PARLIAMENT

WELLINGTON, October 8. The development of the Maruia Springs was referred to in the House of Representatives to-day . when urgency was given the Tourist and Health Resorts Vote. Mr. T. L. Macdonald (Nat., Mataura), said the tourist trade could not be built unp along the lines that what was good enough for ourselves should be good enough for overseas visitors. It should be realised that many tourists came from; countries where there were higher standards than ours. ■ Mr. E. R. Neale (Nat., Nelson), urged the development of Maruia Springs, where, he said, some remarkable cures had taken place. SYMPATHETIC MINISTER

The Minister, Mr. Parry, said he was eager to see more modern tourist accommodation provided, but most of the resources of the building industry were still devoted to the housing programme. Were conditions normal, nothing would please him better than to go ahead with the programme which had been prepared for more modern tourist resorts in various parts of the Dominion. Mr. Parry said that in the past five or six years, despite the curtailment of overseas tourist traffic during the war years and after, there had been remarkable expansion, in the department’s turnover, indicating the success of the policy of encouraging New Zealanders to travel freely in their own country. Mr. J. R. Hanan (Nat., Invercargill), Mr. W. T. Anderson (Govt., Auckland Central) and other speakers urged the provision of facilities at leading tourist resorts for those who could not afford to pay the relatively high hotel tariffs. Mr. Hanan said that at Milford Sound there were many public works huts which at little expense could be made suitable for workers and others on low incomes who wanted a cheap holiday. Mr. Anderton said thas many workers, especially from Auckland, could enjoy cheap excursions to the Chateau if the facilities were available. The Tourist Department’s first dutv was to provide for New Zealand workers, not for American millionaire* LICENSES WANTED

Mr. R. M. Algie( Nat., Remuera) urged the provision of liquor licences at the Chateau and Waitomo Caves, even if legislation were required. He knew of rib obstacle, save an aoocryphal. mythical thing called the Treaty of Waitangi. It was just drivel to let this prevent provision for the orderly consumption of alcohol, which was much better than the disorderly swilling of alcohol at tourist resorts. The vote was passed before the House adjourned for lunch at one o’clock EXCHANGE RATE

At question time, Mr. J. R. Hanan (Nat., Invercargill), and Mr. T. L. Macdonald (Nat., Mataura), gave notice to ask the Minister of Finance Hon. W. Nash, if the Government would favourably consider giving some relief to returned servicemen engaged in businesses of their own. who have suffered severe financial loss, amounting to hardship, by reason of the recent alteration to the exchange rate. .