AS OTHERS SEE US

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 622, 29 August 1933, Page 6

AS OTHERS SEE US

brighter rotorua PRESS COMMENT BY SOUTH ISLAND DAILIES DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS The recent recommendations of the Business Promotion Committee of tiae Rotorua Borough Council in connection with the development of the district's attractions by means of money raised "from an international sweepstake, have aroused interest in other centres. Following are two leading articles on the matter which appeared in South Island dailies: — Tourist Trade "Commenting editorially under the caption "An Idea of Magnitude" the "Southland News" says: "Rotorua has been making history of late. A few days ago a proposal was put forward to raise the level of the lake, and now comes a scheme to institute' a mammoth sweep on the lines of that periodically held' in Ir eland. The most important feature of such movements is that they bring in large amounts of foreign money and New Zealand is entitled to some of this to balance her outgoings for similar purposes. At the first blush it would appear that Rotorua would make a monopoly of the benefits, but, if one were authorised we would probably have a succession of sweepstakes to provide funds for the development of the tourist districts. The principle is laid down in the art unions already

held and morally there is no difference between a small and a feig effort. It is probable, we think, that if the Government can be induced to entertain the idea it will be as a national enterprise and under the State jurisdiction. It would have to give a guarantee that the interests of the outside investors would be protected, and it might as well take full responsibility for operating the sweeps. The benefits of such an under taking are manifold. The financial results would be similar to those obtained from tourist traffic, as a liberal percentage of the entire amount contributed to the lottery would be available for the work to toe carried out. A large staff would be required continuously, and the extensive operations for which'the money is required would absorb a considerable amount of the surplus labour. Altogether it would help wonderfully if the Government could be persuaded to sanction such an enterpi*ise. Considering the reservations covering the art unions now authorised we doubt if the Minister will view the matter in the same light as the Rotorua people. Mr. Hamilton is rather ashamed of the Government permitting gambling and has endeavoured to minimise the guilt of the Coalition by curtailing the publicity accorded the art unions and rendering it more difficult to sell tickets. This salving of the conscience may satisfy the Minister but it does not alter the fact that a gamble is a gamble whether it is advertised in a few lines or in full-page displays. There will be a wide difference of | opinion in regard to the question I ■throughout the country, and to over- j come the prejudice of those who feei that there is a want of dignity in such methods of obtaining funds. After all there is much to be said on this account and it will be said before any definite decision is arrived at by the Government. It is certainly an intriguing proposal, and one that would go far towards solving some of our most difficult problems. It would be like selling a larger amount of produce, or equivalent to a rise in the priees of our export lines. But people do discriminate between gambling on a large or on a small

scale. Monte Carlo is almost free from serious competition, and even "Tattersalls" is almost unique outside Europe. It is just a question of whether Ministers will agree that desperate diseases require desperate remedies and consent to give the proposals a trial on a modified scale. The Irish sweep is not recognised as legitimate by many post offices nor is the Hobart enterprise which absorbs hundreds of thousands of New Zea"land money annually. However, (both of them are pronounced successes financially, which proves that it is futile to attempt to curb human instincts. It is probable that if the State gives its sanction to the proposal the regulations and dispositions will be based on those governing the Irish sweep. The idea evidently took •the breath away from Rotorua borough councillors, and it will assume no less propor.tions to the Minister^ of the Crown who are called upon to make a most momentus decision — a decision which would be very unpopular in certain circles if adopted.

Christchurch Opinion "In a general sense enterprise i& commendable, but there should be some doubts concerning the kind of mended by the Rotorua Business Promotion Committee of the Rotorua Borough Council," says the Christchurch Sun. "The proposal is that the Government should he petitioned to allow an international sweep stake, the proceeds from which would be used to develop Rotorua as a 'national asset.' It is that already, but apparently business intere$ts in Rotorua are not satisfied with present methods of exploiting "its possibilities. The greatest charm of Rotorua now is its comparative quietness. Those who wish to rush about may do so pleasantly, but those who want to take life easy for a time for their health's sake, or any other reason, have every encouragement and fac'ility. Rotorua is a health resort and a tourist resort. There have been no major complaints against its qualities for attracting tourists, but it is almost certain that its attractions as a health resort would be diminished by converting it into a place where the high spirit of carnival reigned all th'e time. The thought of aeroplane and seaplane rading shattering its peace is one that will not be welcom-' ed much by nervous people who go there in the hope of gaining new strength. A pier and pavilion on Lake Rotorua, complete no doubt with brass and jazz feand, would appeal t > some, but would repel more. It ip also proposejl to undertake a planting programme to make Rotorua

a 'typically New Zealand town.' If the pleasant plans of the Business Promotion Committee were carried out, , tourists might get a wrong impression of what a New Zealand town really is. They would think that if a village offered all these excitements Auckland must be the Paris of the Pacific."