REQUESTS TO MINISTER

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 617, 23 August 1933, Page 4

REQUESTS TO MINISTER

It is to be sincerely hoped that the representations made last night to the Minister of Public Workis; with regard itb the raising of the level of Lake Rotorua Will bear good ' fruit) The Minister appeared to find something entirely now in the proposals made by the deputa- J tion and was guarded in his re- j ply. It is but reasonable that he should require time for consultation with his expert advisers before definitely committing himself to the acceptance or rejection of the plans suggested to him, but he should have no difficulty in realising that the work is a very important one indeed for Rotorua. This town has to rely for its prosperity largely upon the attractions which it can plaee before tourists and there is no shadow of doubt whatever that the fall in the lake level has robbed the water front of a great deal of its beauty. A restoration and maintenance of the old levels is most necessary if the contemplated reclamation scheme of the borough is to be fully effeetive. The deterioration of the fly-fishing j areas is also important from the j tourist point of view and should j receive careful eonsideration i from the Minister of Internal Affairs as it is distinctly part of his duty to see that the natural attractions of the country are not impaired by neglect. The same can be said with equal confidence with regard to the thermal activity and the Minister will have no difficulty in obtaining corroboration of the statements made by members of the deputation. It must be admitted that a variation in the levels of all the lakes is inevitable as a result of periods of dry or wet weather, but it must \ equally be freely admitted that j the drop in Rotorua has been at- i tributable to other causes than j the variation of the seasons, j The raising of the outfall of the i lake should present no engin- j eering difficulties and the cost i would certainly not be out of t proportion to the benefit obtain- j ed. If Rotorua is to be main- ! tained as a national asset its I natural charms should not be j negelected. Another request made to the | Minister justifying prompt con- j sideration is provision for wid- j ening the main highway between the end of Ranolf Street and the Utuhina Stream. There can be no doubt that the condition of the road at this point is dangerous owing to the bad visibility caused by steam from the Kuirau Reserve. With an increasing volume of traffic a serious accident is bound to occur if something is not done. The borough is prepared to shoulder part of the cost and the Government should not hesitate to give assistance. The fact that control is . vested in the Highways Boafd should not prevent a working arrangement being arrived at without delay. It is public money which would be used and it is public safety which is involved.