Information Centre Faces Crisis Again

Taupo Times, Volume XIV, Issue 67, 26 August 1965, Page 9

Information Centre Faces Crisis Again

Right at the height of one of Taupo's peak holiday periods the Information Centre once again faces a crisis. The present occupant, Mr E. Leyland, has told Taupo Borough Council he will vacate the premises at the end of this week.

Although the council approved a move to keep the doors open for a week, the town clerk, Mr K. G. Winton, and some councillors were against the council doing more than calling a meeting to discuss the future of the centre.

A meeting of interested parties is to be called. In a letter to the council Mr Leyland alleged that the majority of Taupo business people who reaped the rewards from Taupo's tourist industry were doing "abso-

lutely nothing" toward supporting the industry. Mr Leyland has occupied the Taupo Information Centre during the past 18 months, firstly as an executive of Taupo Scenic Tours and latterly on his own behalf on a commission and saies basis. He suggested that as the business community benefitted from the centre, they should be prepared to support it. "There is no doubt at all that there is a need for an information centre and that a lot of work needs to be done in public relations, in the strict sense of the term, and that the demand for these services is increasing," Mr Leyland said. "To date, there has been a singular lack of support, either moral or financial, from those businesses which gain directly from the visitors to Taupo. "Therefore, as a means of finance to support the centre, I would suggest that an arbitrary bed tax be levied on all accommodation and that all businesses have a charge, say of £5, levied at the time of the rate demands."

He added that the income derived from such sources should be sufficient to enable the office to function in a proper manner. Commission and the sale of souvenirs had been the main source of income in the time he had occupied the premises, Mr Leyland said. Had all accommodation proprietors been prepared to support the office, and" had a lease been forthcoming, he considered there would have been a reasonable chance of success. "As neither of these two possibilities has eventuated, and as I have exhausted my own financial resources, it is my intention to vacate the bnilding on August 27, 1965," he said. Any further attempt to keep the office open would need to have the support of all the business community, As they were apparently reluctant to support the office on a voluntary basis — as events of the past five years had proved — then a rating basis would be the only fair way, Mr Leyland considered. "The only other suggestion I would make is that possibly council staff could use the premises as office accommodation and thus handle any inquiries from the public. "Here, the council would again be acting in the Father Christoas manner, as I have been doing, and no doubt everyone would be more than happy to see this done," wrote Mr Leyland. He also told the council that he had formed these opinions at a personal cost of £770.

"I firmly believe that as the whole business community benefits from the office, then they should be the people to support it," he said. He expressed his regret that he was unable to carry on any longer. Cr J. M. Stanley said the council might have expected this eventuality. "The matter is too important to be allowed to go any further," he said. "The council must take the lead and get together the groups interested in the town such as the Travel and Holiday group, the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary and so on. "There are already people willing to help and provide the staff if required." The Mayor, Mr J. E. Story, said the people of the town had to take a financial interest in the centre. As a member of the original Information Trust along with Cr Stanley, Cr G. Marlow said he had to agree with Cr Stanley. "I am sure what Mr Leyland says is exactly how he feels about this," Cr Marlow added. Mr Winton: A lead to convene a meeting only? Otherwise I am all in favour of closing the doors. Cr Stanley: I feel we should carry on for a week at least.

Cr W. L. Haines: Could the staff man it for a week? "I am against that," Mr Winton said. "If we do that the businessmen will sit back and let us carry on. I agree with Mr Leyland. If we take too much on I am afraid we will be left with it." After Cr Stanley had assured the council that finance was available for a week's salary, the council ' agreed to arrangements being made along these lines while a meeting is called. This is the second "crisis" in the life of the Information Centre. The first was only resolved when, after the centre closed down, Mr Leyland opened the building on a voluntary basis.