LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Taupo Times, Volume XIV, Issue 60, 3 August 1965, Page 5

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

TOURISM Sir — "Happy Rotorua! Bowl•ers Spend £105,000." Qnite an inspiring headline. The news item under it went on to say that 3000 indoor bowlers spent this in Rotorua during seven days of June. To a small extent, Taupo benefitted from this in receiving some "overflow" in the accommodation line. This is small compensation when the news item goes on to say that "conferences were playing a major part in the local economy, with an average of 20 a year. Similar large sums were spent with every event." Of course it can be argued that Taupo is not geared to deal with conventions of this magnitude.' But — was Rotorua so geared 10 years ago? It is plain to see that the tourist — both internal and external v — will be Taupo's mainstay economically in 10 years' time. Now is the time we should be preparing. What do we need? @ Conference space. ® Hot pool of Olympic size. • Indoor sporting areas. & Solarium and skating rink. • Improved beach facilities. © Garden areas. © Expanded touring facilities. ® Aquatic development. © Improved access to points of local interest. © More accommodation of all grades. Above all, to accomplish it we need community co-oper-ation and drive. How to meet the cost? I must admit laymanship in this matter, but surely it would be possible to channel just 1% of annual tourist spending in Taupo to provision of these amenities. In terms of the Jaycees recent survey, the sum would exceed £50,000 per annum.

Where to put it? The vicinity of the A.C. Baths would lend itself to some. Or better still the present Taharepa Road/Lake Terrace corner. Why not a combination of both? The area on both sides of Lake Terrace at the town end of the approach to the boat harbour is an ideal site for attractive landscaping. Some can be left to private enterprise. Judging by your columns recently, there is much accommodation, building and projected building going on. I have every confidence that soon we shall have plenty of "room in the inn."

I also have every confidence that Taupo can do it. All that is required is for the municipal authorities, the sports bodies, the businessmen, the hotel and motel owners, the transport operators and the man-in-the-street to get together and work to make Taupo New Zealand's premier tourist and holiday resort. — Yours, etc..

W. G.

FOSTER.

FLUORIDATION Sir, — A major catastrophe is to strike Taupo shortly, a catastrophe far worse than any earthquake or war, a catastrophe perpetrated by the vote of one man on a divided council. The catastrophe I refer to is the serious undermining of the basic and democratic rights of mankind in New Zealand. Why should one man have the right to determine the fate of 6500 permanent residents of Taupo, and their water drinking habits. I personally object to being forced to bath in fluoridated water, and to have my food cooked in fluoridated water, let alone drink it, and I hate to think what my pot plants and lawn would have to say to being fed on fluoridated water. I think we would all sooner become alcoholic than fluoridated. If people want to take fluoride, then let them buy their tablets at the chemist, as they are probably doing now, and leave our water supply pure. The people who are for fluoride probably think they are going to get something cheap, but little do they realise that the cost of this venture will be recovered in their rates. Finally I would like to see the man whose vote has perpetrated this catastrophe, withdraw that vote and put the question to a referendum and let the residents decide the issue, thereby upholding the citizen's privilege. When all is said and done we put the Borough Council into power to look after our interests as ratepayers, but not to run our lives. — yours, etc.,

B. E. V.

HODSON