ROTORUA'S FUTURE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 370, 3 November 1932, Page 4

ROTORUA'S FUTURE

It is to be hoped that the appeal made by Mr. C. H. Clinkard for a proper realisation of the value of Rotorua as a tourist resort will not fall on deaf ears. Mr. Clinkard raised a number of points which cannot be top strongly emphasised when considering the drastic recommendations of the National Expendi- | ture Commission in regard to ; Government expenditure in this j centre. The chief of these unI doubtedly, is the value of the re- ' sort not only to its immediate ; distriet, but to the whole of the ■ Dominion. This opinion has al- ; ready been expressed by other | members of Parliament in disI cussing the commission's tindI ings and the signs and portents | appear to indicate that Mr. Clin- | kard's views will receive support from both sides of the House. Rotorua, with any other community, will realise the necessity for Government economies and j it is too much to expect that in ' a town which represents such a large State investment, the ecoI nomy axe will be altogether ; withheld. We have already pointi ed out, however, that irreparI able harm will be done by a policy of economy at any price and j this is the danger into which the ; Government may be led by the recommendations of the commission. These recommendations entirely overlooked a num- ! ber of counteracting factors ( which0place an entirely different j aspect upon the position as pre- ! sented by the report. With regard to the water and drainage I systems, Mr. Clinkard emphasised that the present serviees are carrying the burden of previous | experiments. He might also have | pointed out that the capital valj ues quoted by the commission I are largely inflated as a result of extravagant Government building methods and that the new baths, particularly, which contribute to the interest bill, have not1 yet been given an opportunity to prove their earning potentialities. Last year when the Blue Baths were opened, the response from the public fully justified the claim that in the future these baths will be one of the outstanding attractions of the resort. There is no doubt that when the larger bath is opened, this response will be increased and that it is only a matter of time and adequate public-

ity before the baths will return a. substantial profit to the Government. It cannot be reasonably expected that Rotorua activities will pay capital charges under existing conditions. Very few private undertakings and certainly very few Government undertakings at the present time, are in a position to do this. It was the capital charges quoted which made the case against Rotorua so black. On a profit and loss basis, the Government activities showed a much sounder position than very many others in the country and demonstrated that the resort is holding its own in. spite of the difficult times through which it is passing. As Mr. Clinkard pointed out, the late Sir Joseph Ward realised the potentialities of Rotorua and before his death, did a great deal to point the way which the Government should follow. That way does not lie along the purely negative paths suggested by the National Expenditure Commission. Rotorua has some of the most wonderful natural assets in the world. Man has done something to supplement these and if a vigof ous policy • which will bring them before the proper public is pursued, they wiil be appreciated. In that,xboth the Government and the community must co-operate and the community, if it will, can do a great deal to assist its own well-being, Recent moves to co-operate for the purpose of improving the attractions of the town and giving a better service to visitors are evidence of the desire of the community to assist. "There is , ti.de in the affairs of men,

which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune." So far as the fortunes of Rotorua are concerned, that time is now- Faith in the future of the town, a progressive policy of advertising its attractions and of giving service to the visitors when they are attracted, will bring prosperity in their train. Ideas which prevailed ten and fifteen and even five years ago, must be reconstructed but Rotorua has a future which justifies confidehqe not only on the part of its own people but on the part of „the Government which already has such a substantial interest in Its progress. The recommendations of the commission in their entirety might arrest expenditure but they would also deliver a fatal blow to confidence and a realisation of the town's future.