AIMING HIGH

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 618, 24 August 1933, Page 5

AIMING HIGH

rotorua in future AMBITIOUS SUGGESTIONS , LEAVE COUNCIL TRIFLE BREATHLESS INTERNATIONAL SWEEPSTAKE A number of suggestions for developing Rotorua as a tourist resort wero submitted to the Rotorua Borough Council last evening in a report by the Business Sub-Committee of the Advancement Committee. The report set out a number of rather extensive proposals which for the mornent apeared rather to take the council's breath away. The report ran as follows: — The Rotorua Business Pfomotion / Sub-Committee is convinced that the development of Rotorua outside Government Gardens and baths is long overdue, and respectfully suggests that the following ideas be considered at the eai'liest possible moment, and that some programme be put into operation to make the town what it should be. (1) Provide speedways for international motor and motor-cycle racing. (2) Make provision for aeroplane and seaplane racing — the lake will make an ideal landing stage for commercial seaplanes. (3) The lake could be utilised for every form of aquatic sport. A pier could be built with a pavilion for entertainments. This would make a modern Venice in a pleasant atmosphere. (4) Ngongotaha Mountain could be developed in conjunction, with the lake as a playground with suitable attractions. (5) Ohinemutu and Whakarewarewa could be developed as genuine Maori pas. (6) Provide a superior racecourse. for racing and trotting and grounds for horse events and Royal Show grounds together with first cjass polo ground. "What Is This?" What is this, Mr. Mayor? asked one councillor after a few moments silent contemplation. The Mayor: This is the new Rooseveltian method of making war on depression. _ Cr. Goodson: I don't like this idea of a superior racecourse — I thought we had one already. The Mayor: It is not a good steeplechase course, Cr. Goodson. The idea, perhaps, is to have the Grand National here. Cr. Johnson : Or the Derby. The Mayor, when matters had quietened down a little, said that he did not think that the suggestions • - should be treated in any cavalier or off-hand fashion. It was not suggested cf course, that these things should be done straight away, but that they were objects which should be lcepb in view.

Aiming High • Cr. Johnson agreed with the mayor. There was no doubt that some of the matters suggested were on the ambitious side but they were all worth while and some of them were worth very clos© considei'ation. The committee had suggested that finance might be provided by organising a great art union and the idea was a good one. He thought that the council should do its best to see whether funds could not be raised in this way. The Mayor saiff that the idea was to hold an international sw eepstake : these had been held in other countries for much less worthy objects. The objects were certainly ambitious hut it was only lack of finance that prevented. them realising some of their ambitions. This was a national scheme and this was the right angle from which to view the matter. Rotorua was the greatest tomeist asset which the Dominion possessed but unless it could move with the times, it would not continue to attract tourists. The suggestion that all interested bodies should be approached with a view to making representations to the Govern ment for a great national sweepstake, was an excellent one and should be supported. Cr. Johnson: There is no harm m aiming high. Further Support Cr. Coleman congratulated the fnmmittfie on the thought which it

had given to its report. He thought that the suggestion for a sweepstake was a good one and should be supported. Unless they aimed high, they would not aecomplish a great deal. Cr. W. H. Wackrow: Why not ask for an art union. If you want a sweepstake, you will have to have new legislation. The Mayor: If we ask for a sweepstake, we may get an art union. The report was then put to the council and was about to be adopted when Cr. Steele suddenly mteriected in an anxious tone "this won t cost us anything will it?" (Laughter.) The Mayor: Only the guarantee for the art Union, Cr. Steele.