FISHING ACCESS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 155, 19 July 1937, Page 8

FISHING ACCESS

-Own Correspondent.)

Construction oi Road at Taupo MINISTER'S PR0P0SALS

(By Telegraph-

AUCKLAND, Last Night. The annouHceuieat that the Government has decided to carry out a survey with the object of providing road access from the Taupo townsnip to VV'estern Bay and Rangatira Point in order ,to inerease the fishing amenifcies and scenic ■ attractions of the district was made by the Minister of lnternal Aff'airs, the Hon. W". E. Parry, who has been carrying out an inspection tour in the Rotorua district. The Minister said that the Government 's'aim was to open up to full advantage the tourists resorts and to sce proviued at them even greater facilities than now existed. On a previous visit to Taupo he had been impressed by the beauty of Western Bay, the scope _ it provided for fishing and the possibilities of the surrounding land. He had discussed those features with his colleagues and the officers of the depavtments concerned, and there was a readiness to agree that road access from the town of Taupo was not only desirable but necessary. "Before coming on my present visit," Mr Parry said, "I had a conference with the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. fcJbmple, and the engineer-in-chief, Mr J. Wood. It was decided that a survey should be made of the proposed road and that various phases connected with it should be considered. The road, if undertakon, would be from Western Bay to Rangatira Point. I hope that the survey will result in the work being proceeded with." " A road such as that proposed by the Minister should he a great help," said Mr F. E. McKenzie, president of the Auckland- Acclimatisation Society, when the announcemdmt made by Mr Parry was referred to him. "I understand that fishing to the west of. Taupo has been better lately than it hae been on the settled side o£ the lake." "Some doubt exists among anglers who know the . Taupo country well as to the extent of the roading plans. One man Baid it had 'frequently been suggested that a road should be put through from Taupo township to Whakaipo Bay, the first large inlet in Western Bay. This road would be about eight miles in length and would open up good fishing water which at present could be reached only by boat. the journey taking over an hour. The same angler said it appeared that a road right through to the far end of Western Baj woul'd have to traverse some" very brqken country- and would he a fairly expensive undertaking. " Certainly a road to the west of Taupo would be of valuc, ' ' the aiigler added, fbut it would hardly represent a serioua attempt to deai with the problem of fishing access. What Is wanted most urgently is, access through privately-owned land to rivor fishing."