ROTORUA IS PLANNING TO ATTRACT MORE TOURIST TRADE

Taupo Times, Volume IV, Issue 196, 28 October 1955, Page 2

ROTORUA IS PLANNING TO ATTRACT MORE TOURIST TRADE

In view of the movement in Taupo to establish a public relations otiice, to advertise Taupo's tourist attractions and to provide information and entertainment for visitors, which resulted in a provisional committee being set up at a recent public meeting, it is of interes't to note activities in Rotorua directed to similar ends. A campaign to ralse some £1500 in Rotorua, toward the setting up of a public relations otiice, and so to qualify for a grant of £1000 offered by the Rotorua Borougli Gouncil, recently closed successfully, and the projected otiice is expected to be set up shortly. An additional project. now taking shape in Rotorua, sponsored by the 30,000 Club, aims at the building of a new sound-shell on the Rotorua lakefront at an estimated cost of £38,000. Built in permanent material, the sound-shell will have a sernicircular auditorium, covered against rain and heated against the cold, with seating for 3000 people. Money Spinner Club members see in the new shell with its encircling auditorium not only a great centre for popular holi-day-time entertainment in Rotorua, but a money spinner. An approximate 26,000 attended the Christmas shows last year and any number got in "over tlio l'ence." Witli the new shell, proper control of the ci'owds can be kepl at lurnStile gates. Lvevenue will be coming in from the use of the space under the auditorium and many more shows can be staged tliroughout the year because of the greatly increased comfort and proteotion that will be atforded. "We think tliis is an ambitious scheme but we know that once compieled the new shell will play an imjioi'tanl ] > a i * 1 in provided otihleer entertainment !'>r the people of Rotorua and the thousands of visitors we have every year," said MT Lindell, presldent of the 30,000 Club. "The old sound-shell is known the iength and breadth of the country and overseas," he continued. "There's hardly a committee meeting goes by but we receive some inquiry al>out it. rriie City of Christchurch wanted to know how we laid our concrete floor and estahlished the skaling eiuh, the East Coast bays in Auckland recent1\ wanted to know about ihe sliell and we had a request for pians fi'om Bendigo, Victoria." But the seating at the shell was not satisfactory and the shell. itself requiring a heavier and lieavier outlay every year to keep it standing, Mr Lindell explained. Built only of temporary materials, it was nqw in very rickety condition. 11 would cost; allivost; as niucli to put it ia good shape ;is to build a now and very niucli hcl1;er oue. ed success and a new shell had to be built. The 30,000 Club was looking to the public to help it in building one.