THE BOROUGH OF TAUPO

Taupo Times, Volume 11, Issue 76, 1 July 1953, Page 4

THE BOROUGH OF TAUPO

HPHE promulgation, by the Local Government Commission, of a provisional scheme for' constituting the Taupo Town District a borough, is a milestone in the progress and development of the town. Although objections to the provisional scheme may under the empowering Act, be lodged up to July 27th, there appears to be no likelihood whatever that any delay will occur in approval of the scheme as final, for no objections were made prior to or during the sitting of the Commission, of which due notice had been given. The constitution of the Borough of Taupo is probably unique in one aspect in the history of New Zealand. It was stated, when the Taupo Road District was set up, that it was the fir st Road District to be constituted with out having first been part of an area administered by a County Council. It seems, therefore, that Taupo is perhaps the first town in New Zealand to have gained Borough status without having passed thiPugh the stage of County Council administration. The decision of the Commission will be regarded as most satisfactory one by all interested in the progres sof the town and district. Petitions for Borough status are not granted as a matter of course, but only after a thorough study of the position of the petitioning town, and only after the Commission is satisfied as to its economic and fmancial stability. In point of fact, there have been recent cases of such petitions not being granted. In stating that it was satisfied that the Taupo Town District was experiencing rapid development, and there was every indication that it would continue, and in referring to its real and solid growth, the €ommission's report indicated some of the factors contributing to that development and growth. These were the improvement of motor transport and road communication^; settlements associated with State power schemes; popularity of the district as a nation al holiday centre; and the extensive land development schemes, either under way or planned, of the Departments of Land and Survey and of Maori Affairs. All of these factors are undoubtedly contributing to the progress of Taupo. While, at the moment, the Wairakei GeothePmal Power Project probably holds the centre of the stage, and while it undoubtedly will be of immense importance to the whole country, we would hazard the prophecy that in the long term vi.ew the most important single factor in Taupo's progress will be that of land development. Taupo today is in a position similar to that of Rotorua some twenty to thirty years ago. C'ommencing originally as a tourist and holiday resort Rotorua has;, while maintaining that character, become already the centre of a major primary producing area. And high authority has recently stated that today the Pumice Country is on the verge of becoming a second Waikato. A eomparatiyely few years ago any such development was considered an idle dream by all except a few far sighted pioneers. Today, with many, probably most, of the problems of pumice land farming already solved by modeTn research, its suceessful development is obviously well under way. There is no doubt that such development, added to the other factors mentioned, will in the years to eome ensure a sound and stable future for Taupo. The raising of the town to the status of a borough will assist in the administration of its affairs as it keeps pace with the progress of the whole central area of the North Island. That area is destined in the next half century to see great development.