ROTORUA RESORTS

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5329, 15 February 1947, Page 2

ROTORUA RESORTS

"-WELL- W'l SH ER ' '

.(To The Editor) Sir, — After an absence of .som'e years from Rotorua, I was amazed„ at the deterioration of what were onee the district's mdst wondei*ful attractions. Take O'kere Ealls, for iustance. Onee this was a •cliarming and beautifiul . spot. Now there is not even a decent track down to the falls; just a mass of blackberi'y and weeds where there was at one time a good path. At the 'bottom is a mess of rusty scrap-iron and decaying woodwork which" was onee a power-bouse, but now only an eyesore. Then there is Hamurana, onee a favourite spot, but now a wilderness of foul-smelling weed. What was onee clear water where the stream enters the lake now resembles a swamp. The vvhai*f where at one time pleasant boating events toolc place in the summer has long since decayed into oblivkm. No wonder it has lost its previoius popularity, especially with the eorrugated, potholed and dusty road after leaving' 1 Ngongotaha. And what a desolate-looking place the Rotoi*ua lake front is. 'It eould Aave been planted years ago with trees, ferns and lawns laid down. Look what the Hamilton Beautifying Society has done for Hamilton. It has been transformed from a wilderness of scrub to a eity of beautiful parks and walks ancl they are still improving it. Rotorua is getting a name for being one of the dirtiest and d'ustiest pi*ovincial towns in New Zealand. All the streets in the town area at least shoulcl be sealed from kerb to kerb, not just a strip down the centre. Is it any wonder that towns like Tauranga, Napier and iGsborne are fast gaining in popularity with larg*e numbers of people ip preference to Rotorua ? Wake up.Borough Councillors. It is no good saying you have no funds. Make representations to the Government for a special yearly grant to maintain and improve the- tourist resorts of the di&trict. Rotorua is a national asset ancl a major draw for ovex*seas toux'ists. It is too much to expect a small town like Rotox*ua to px*ovide all the funds which will be necessary to improve the district's attractions.' Besides the Borough Coupeil, the Tourist Department shoulcl also bestir itself and endeavour to improve the attractions which nature has bestowed on the district. The department hook in many hundreds of tourists every year into the town and it is up to them to put more back into the place than they have done in the past. An up-to-date modex*n hotel is also badly required. This eould be run by the Tourist Department similar to its hostels at other resorts and should carry a liquor license and all amexiities. A vigorous and far seeing policy should 'be put into action at onee, as the district has the goods to oifer. — I arn etc.,