FIGHTING DEPRESSION

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 261, 28 June 1932, Page 6

FIGHTING DEPRESSION

TIME FOR ACTION ROTARIAN McDOWELL ADVISES ACTIVE CAMPAIGN METHODS. MORE ATTRACTIONS NEEDED. ; * A very interesting address on Rotorua's possibilities for progress axld expansion, in the course of which xnany constructive suggestions were brought forward, was given to Rotorua Rotary Club members yesterday by Rotarian J. McDowell. The title at first given to the address, "Depression and Cold Feet," the speaker , said, was misleading, as in reality it was a call to action to meet the prevailing difficult conditions. Mr. McDowell said that he hoped that his ideas would be discussed among the club members, and as a result, they would lead to some movement being commenced which would eventually bring prosperity back to Rotorua. "For the past two years, in common with the rest of the world, we have been reading, thinking, and talking depression," said Mr. McDowell. "When we look out upon world affairs we see the stage set for the greatest social catastrophe that has ever been known, and only wise counsel can prevent it happening." Referring to New Zealand, the speaker said that this Dominion had the distinction, during the last year, of having .the- second largest percentage increase of unemployed in the world, and unemployed numbers were increasing rapidly. The sources of revenue were drying up, and unless something different was done the country was heading straight for bankruptcy. There was nothing to make one optimistic. The depression had had a stunning effect upon the whole world, and it w&s little wonder that people to-day were suffering from "cold feet." Hopeful Signs. Howeverf in spite of all this, Mr. McDowell noticed here and ther^, that people were beginning to bestir themselves and realise that if the depression was to be lifted it must be by individual and community effort, or at least those efforts must supplement what the Governments were doing. "We are all far to prone to lean upon the Government, and to expeet it to carry our burdens," he said. When quite a young man a successful Scotch farmer gave him the following advice: "When things go wrong don't blame the othei fcllow or any set of circumstances. Blame yourself. You will then set to work to put things rig'ht. The speaker suggested that the time had come for the people to look away from the depression and to set themselves cheerfully and hopefully to the taslc of putting this town on the road to prosperity. The depression would pass over as it had done before in history. Mr. McDowell then made _ some | suggestions which he considered should be adopted. He advised first the making of a community effovt such as had been started in the tourist resorts in Europe. In those plaees, finding that there was a shortage of ( overseas visitors, they had set them- , selves the task of providing cxtra r.t- t tractions to bring them there. In i Rotorua we seemed to get large number of visitors, but these visitors did not stay for a week or two weeks , as they did in the past. To-day they merely passed through Rotorua, sta; - , ing only a day or two, then moving on again. It seemed that the task . of the residents was to provide at- • tractions which would keep the visi- i tors longer in the town. Attractions to Offer. Rotorua's chief attractions, said Mi McDowell, came under the heading of scenery, sport and health. In i the field of sport much could be done by promoting carnivals which would last for several days, or perhaps a week. Each branch of sport golf, hockey, basketball, and football in the winter, and bowls, cricket and tennis in the summer— should j combine for this purpose. _ Night i attractions could be centred in the Government grounds, with also the , possibility of swimming sports in the new Blue Baths, which provided a , great opportunity for winter functions. The events could also be en- I livened by the provision of band i music and an open air dancing floor. .. Every effort should be made to have the new Blue Baths completed at an early date as they would be a tremendous asset to the town. Another thing was the necessity for making the sports grounds suitable and attractive. The golf course j ' and bowling greens were already in j beautiful settings, but the other ; sports were poorly provided for. The j setting in which a sport was held had j a large influence from a carnival ! point of view in the financial benefit it would confer on the town. A Conference Town. Mr. McDowell also considered that Rotorua should be made a conference town, and that a suitable hall should be built to house such gatherings. A permanent secretary couhl be attached to the hall to do the preliminary work of the conferences,

and between times promote and organise the carnivals. He advised a combined effort on the part of the Railway Department, motor transport companies, boarding house and hotels, so that visitors might be attracted by cheap fares and accommodation over certain periods of the year, with fixed charges to cover the expenses of a whole trip. In conclusion Mr. McDowell expressed the hope that Rotary members would consider his suggestions and that they would be of some practical value. He had only referred to a few things that could be done. He had not dealt with the possibilities of the health side of Rotoi'ua, but would leave that to Rotarian E. G. Guy. Useful Suggestion. In thanking Mr. McDowell for his address, Mr. E. G. Guy declarcd members were indebted to the speaker for jogging their minds on an important local topic. He then briefly outlined some of the work being done by the borough amusement committee, whose actions were not nearly well enough known. The way in which the present day tourists flew through the town and the question of how to keep them in Rotorua should be considered. The sights in themselves were not enough to hold them. In the old days people visited Rotorua for treatment in the mineral baths which had necessitated them making a lengthy stay. Now the Government and municipal bodies had let this important side of the town's activities drop into the background. It was necessary, of course, to make it cheap and attractive to the people coming for treatment, and the only way to entice them here was by advertising. He pointed out that no one answered more quickly to an advertisement than a sick person in search of health. There were nat- ! ural curative waters in Rotorua, but j they were not made known. The baths available should be made a keynote of the town's attractions. Benefit would also be received by the various sections of the community i in having these people spend a time ■ in the town. I Mr. Guy concluded by thanking Mr. McDowell on behalf of the club members for his valuable and very | much appreeiated address.