MEMBERS MOTUTERE BOARD PROTEST TO MINISTER

Taupo Times, Volume II, Issue 96, 20 November 1953, Page 1

MEMBERS MOTUTERE BOARD PROTEST TO MINISTER

M.P's. UNFAIR STATEMENT During consideration by the House of Representatives on Tuesday of last week of the Lands Department estimates, Mr Tennent (Government, Palmerston North), and Mr Cotterill (Opposition, Wanganui) made certain criticisms of the conveniences and fencing erected at Motutere Bay Domain, on the eastern shore of Lake Taupo between Waipehi (Jellicoe Point) and Waitetoko. After referring to the concern of Wanganui people at the way in which the work was done, Mr Cotterill said that it was a pity that the spot had been destroyed, and continued: — "The suggestion is that the Domain Board set up to control the area is composed of citizens of Taupo and that they may be trying to drive people away to Taupo itself." The East Taupo Domain Board which administers the Domain, consists of the Commissioner of Crown Lands for the South Auckland District, the Resident Engin- =

eer, Ministry of Works, Rotorua, and the Conservator of Wild Life, Rotorua, all ex-officio, together with a member of the Taupo Town Board (now Borough Council) exofficio, and Messrs L. H. Cheal, J. D. Swan and R. H. Ward, of Taupo. The Town Board nominee is Mr W. T. Irvine, of Taupo. The three Departmental members are not resident in Taupo. Letter to Minister The Hon. E. B. Corbett, Minister of Lands, stated, in replying in the House to the criticisms of the work done at the Domain, that he had never been to Motutere Bay, but he understood that what had been said was substantially correct.

A letter addressed to the Minister by the Taupo members of the Board, a copy of which has been handed to the "Times," states that while they do not believe the Minister's statement was intended to include Mr Cotterill's references as quoted above, they are indeed surprised that the Minister did not, in his reply, mention Mr Cotterill's reference to the Domains Board and its members. The letter points out that Mr Cotterill was inaccurate in stating that the Board was composed of Taupo citizens. The writers also state that they feel that the implication in" Mr Cotterill's statement, that they were suffieiently lacking in a sense of duty and responsibility to act in thet improper manner suggested, should have met with an immediate remonstrance from the Minister. The letter points out that the Domains Board was only appointed last August and that the whole of the works carried out at the Motutere Domain were? done before the Board was set up, and states that the writers feel that these facts should also have been stated by the Minister. The letter concludes by expressing the hope that the Minister would comrnent in the House on Mr Cotterill's references to the Board and its members, and also state there that the Domains Board had no responsibility for the works

done on the Domain, at the first opportunity. The letter mentions that the Board members, in writing it, are not concerned with the criticisms made by the honourable members mentioned, but states that there appears to be a certain air of exaggeration about them. In a further letter addressed to Mr Cotterill, the Taupo' members of the Domains Board express their surprise that he should have made a statement in the House, which made serious implications as to their conduct, and which at the same time indicated that he had failed to make himself acquainted with the facts as to the composition of the Board, and that he was ignorant of the fact that the Board was only set up after all the works on the Domain had been completed. The letter expresses the hope that Mr Cotterill will seek an early opportunity in the House to make a statement indicating that his references to the members of the Domains Board were entirely unfounded and made, in ignorance of the facts.