AS OTHERS SEE US

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 459, 17 February 1933, Page 6

AS OTHERS SEE US

A FRANK REVIEW REGULAR YISITOR RKALS WITH PO S8IBILITIES OF ROTORUA SOME USEFUL SUGGESTIONS The following article has been forwarded to the "Post" by Mr. G. C. Munns, of Auckland, ex-member for Roskill. Mr. Munns deals frankly with Rotorua'® problems and possibilities from the standnoint of a regular visitor to the town, -a.nd .as an interested, sp'ectator, his views are undoubtedly interesting and thought-stimulating. It is as well, as he remarks, forl us to see ourselves as others see us, occasionally, and for that reason, we give the article as forwarded: — ■ As a constant visitor to Rotorua for the past tv/enty years, I feel that I am in a position to offer a little friendly criticism in respect to the lack of interest which appears to exist among the townspeople regarding the developmeut of your attractions. I .•incerely trust that any- remarks that I make will he taken in a friendly spirit. I have given very serious consideration to the question as to wheth'er I should write at all in this concctlou. Too often advice, which is meant, is misunderstood. Pos--;0./ "f would be well advised to allow Rotorua and its townspeople just to drift along, quite satisfied if in these troubled times they were able to make a living, but I feel that even if my remarks awaken resentment in the minds of some worthy citizens, there may be others who will realise that I ;am actuated only by a desire to assist. If only the residents of this town could see the position as it appears. to an outsider The lack of interest that has been displayed towards the development of some of your wonders is positively appalling. Whaka is still the same Whaka of twenty yeiars ago. Truly, someone with vision has cleaned up the rightful entrance to Whaka and to-day a nicely kept grass plo't has taken the place of the neglected area which existed, but that appears to be the only improvement. From the bridge, not a single thing has been done to make the place more inviting. The same winding illkept track leads towards Pohutu. Some time ago a fire appears to have swept through the titree and smiali scrub, and to-day we have a dirty blaek slope, with -hothing to take away its ugly bareness.

I quite reeognise that the native vegetation should be Whaka's chief beauty, but unfortunately nothing but titree appears to thrive there in its native state. Rotorua has to find employment for many men out of work and I am confident that if a body of men were put on to the work ^ of clearing up that scene of desolation : and replanting the area with suiti (able native bush and ferns, this smali i work would immensely improve the I entrance to Whaka. Then, put the j same men to clearing and levelling the paths which lead to the different points of interest. Erect explanatory i notice boards at all the geysersj and ; pools. These would be much appre- ; ciated by visitors. ! I hear someone say that if this jj were done the guides would not be ji required. I venture to say that no ,| one requires a guide round Whaka more than once a.nd also that everyone does require a guide on the oc,:i oasion of their first visit. My suggestion re notice boards would not take ^ (.m« penny from the guides, but would v\-ve to fix the different places of ,r hU'Test firmly in the minds of visitors | to be discussed with friends for many | j! years. |) The Spout Baths '1 Now for those wonderful spout if baths. The most glorious baths of all 'Ibut still the same uninviting pits /'j into which one mu'st descend to en,j joy them. What an asset being overlooked. Reconstruct your spout ■, oalhs. make them clean and inviting ilJati.i 1 venture to say that they will ;!lbe the best patronised baths in Ro- , '• iycrua. Erect decent fences where rei^quired and feature to a greater ex1 tent the Maori homes. The Whaka ' t "lMaoris are really splendid and visit- [• pvs would take still more interest in v thom if they featured, their natural 1 existence to a greater extent. It is ■ jla very inieresting experience to con•y(;rso with the natives at Whaka, and ' iuuch appreciated by visitors. Whaka 1 is a place of such wonderful possi1 • oilities that it should be the show olace of New Zealand. • ' Ohinemutu Improvements |l' Ohinemutu certadnly has improved >f late years. There is an appearance >f tidiness and comfort there which j ireviously did not exist, The beautilj ,ying of the reserve at the end of / Arawa Street shows what could be 1 ;{ one if only the people, would wake , jj'p. How very beautiful that part of ,'| V totorua could be made if the wretch- . i;fd untidy tangle of undergrowtli i s rere removed and beautiful native • ' - iVees, ferns, and nikaus planted in fks • place. Years hence this reserve Ji j ?ould be a glorious place. Shady , dalks iand rock bordered paths would ,i i j eplace the present desolate wilder | ess and this scene of thermal activ- | y would indeed become a place oi !; ! |bauty and a joy forever. r The Govt. Grounds | - Now a word about the Grounds |'i ach year one can see improvements |'i Fected there iand yet small things j jbpear to be neglected. From the en•ji lance opposite Park View, a very !; H.itidy path has been worni by visit- :| j: s. It is quite impossible to keep ' iil'-ople from walking across the grass : : ilj'ere 'and wearing it away. Would it || 1 -fc" be much better to construct a j j/.th at this point. and so do away I'th the untidy appearance? Farther we come to the artificial fuma- • lj' '.es. These are a source of unfailing IjLerest to visitors, and are very beauIjftul indeed, but here again the pow- ' ; 1 |i? that be, possibly through familP'ity, have completely .overlooked I |tit untidy pipe which lies half burbut which completely destroys; ; ; •« ; illusion. We all love to be mysti-' i • d and I say to the authorities, get ' ' of that pipe, bury it completely M ! of sight. I only mention these r • ■fall matters to point out h'ow very \*' oortant it is to attend to the detl ')( s. If one cared to ela-borate these i i"; I,-* .

points many similar things could be cited. Lake Front Road Now for something which really matters. Taking such a keen interest in the development of Rotorua, I have naturally discussed the question of improvements with some of your citizens and have learned of a project to construct a road along lakefront. This is indeed splendid idea and no time should be lost in carrying out the work. For example, one has only to travel along the waterfront road in Auckland to realise the tremendous value to the city. The same thing obtains in Wellington and one can visualise what it would meanl to Rotorua. It would be a delightful drive by day or by night. (When the moonlight is shining on the lake, it is a scene of entrancing beauty, but many visitors fa.il to see it, mainly beeause one has to go some little distance out of the town to be in a position to- view it. By .all means get ahead with your waterfront road. If possible carry it to completion by the time the next tourist season comes round and you will indeed have done something worth while. A National Asset No doubt, Rotorua ha.s, in the past, been shoclcingly neglected. The late Sir Joseph Ward reeognised this, and one of his first undertakings when he again assumed office in 1928, was to initiate a progressive policy in your city. Rotorua may indeed feel indebted to him and to him alone for the f orward move which was made at that time. He had, what many of us so sadly lack, vision. He saw our birthright shamefully neglected. Rotorua does not belong solely to the people of Rotorua, it is a national asset and should be con'sidered as such, yet after all, those who have property or are in business here have a more direct interest in its advancementi. Pirogress here> mean's prcisperity, for your people. Stagnation may rnean poverty. You are blessed with as'sets incomparably superior to any other town in New Zealand and so I say "Wake Up Rotorua." Get busy and organise to improve your town. Progress League I had the pleasure of hearing your mayor, when speaking at the bowling concert last week, announcing that an Improvement Society had been inaugurated. That is indeed a step in the right direction.

'Improvementis cannot he cairrded out without money. Money is scarce to-day and as I realise how very easy it is to criticise and as I have indulged rather freely in this direction, I trust that I may be excused if I ofler suggestions which may assist in raising funds towards carrying out the suggested improvements.. Raising Funds Firstly I would approach the Railvvay Board and try to come to an arrangement whereby you may seoure a percentage of all railway fares to Rotorua. The Railway Board is composed of business men and will, I am confident, see at once the increased business that would come to them as Rotorua is made more attractive. Carry out the same procedure with the motor companies whdch jperate here. Ba,nd all your citizens nto an organisation which will embrace everyone. Sell each member some kind of token which may be worn to show that they have linlced up. This token should be small and attractive and one that could be worn oy either sex. Arrange for 'a donation, no matter how small, to be paid every week by each member of your league r whatever you choose to call it. I mderstand that you have a populaion of over 5000. If this is so, it is i very simple matter to calculate he amount of money which could be uised if each: person contributed only d per week. Even with this ininitesimal contribution the sum of wer £20 per week would be collected, ;r over £1000 per annum. Many ownspeople would be glad to contrimte amounts far in excess of ld per /eek. The boardinghouses and hotelsvhose very existence depends upon he prosperit-y of your town would, I un confident, be prepared to contrimte a sum fap exceeding the above mentioned amount. If such a league •ould be brought into existence you vould have a steady income which vould amount to a very large sum in he course of a year. A "Mardi Gras" Hold an annual "Miardi Gras" on similar lines to the one held in Napier each year, and have your col.ection boxes going continually. Let /our townspeople know what you in,end doing and I am confident they vould enter wholeheartedly into your ichemes. Arrange collections, even among your school children. A mile of pennies would appeal to the little folks | and the civic spirit would be awakeni id even in the tiny tots. I do not, as a rule, advoeate Art rJnion:s, but they appear to have be- : -ome part of our nationial life and [ .vhile they exist it appears. to me, ; hat, seeing the. pressing demand that ' ,-xists here, it would be an act of | olly not to take sadvantage of money ; vhich would accrue from this source. I A very large sum could be ga.theired . n this way. Co-operative Effort Many other sources of effort could | ,e tapped if only the energies of /our people were directed ariglit. /ueen Carnivals, Paddy's Markets. and nany other money making schemes ould be inaugurated. Before closing . would draw attention to what a novement as I suggest, would mean .0 your town. Every man out of work would receive employment. I do not mggest that you could pay full wages >ut I do suggest that you could pay ach man a living wage and employ iim for six days per week. To prerent an infiux from outsdde I would suggest that any man employed by he citizensvand paid from their fund vould require to have been resident lere for say a period of six months. Ch'e men so employed should give of heir best. Any man who was not prelared to work should be told that he vas not required. The civic spirit •hould be extended to the worker.s • md the result would be prosperity in rour town and comfort for your peoile. The business people would benefit ■iy hhje "clirculjatson of much more noney. You could be .one big family landed together in one common cause. It would. bring your people eloser to-

gether, petty jealousias would be swept away and the result would be not only beneficial to Rotorua, but of great benefit to New Zealand.' All that is required is a leader. Someone who is able to get things done. If one cannot be secured who ha.s the time and leisure to carry out tihe undertaking voluntarily, I say without hesitation that it would pay Rotorua well to engage an organiser who was competent to do so. I trust that I will not have hurt the feelings of anyone. I reeognise that your affairs 'are your own concern, but I feel that in justice to myigelf any oue who takes the trouble to read the above article . impartially will agree that the sentiments which I have expi-essed are actuated solely by a desire to advise for your own benefit and indirectly, for the benefit of the whole Dominion. Again I say: "Wake up Rotorua."