The Daily News TUESDAY, MAY 26. OUR SCENIC ATTRACTIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 132, 26 May 1908, Page 2

The Daily News TUESDAY, MAY 26. OUR SCENIC ATTRACTIONS.

I'l iu policy of developing tlic marvellous scenic and thermal assets of the Dominion, and partictthuly in preserving from despoliation areas of New Zealand's native ami primeval beauty, tlic Covertimeiu of the day is performing a duty tliat few really patriotic .Nmv Zen landers will cavil at. We are not unduly concerned about the attraction of oversea tourists, for purely sightseeing purposes, to our shores, although we recognise, even in them. a valuable means of advi -rtising the .Dominion, the ultimate bem-liL of which may not be felt iu a day. The Scenery ['reservation Commission, notwithstanding ils cist, did valuable work, the worth of which will be appreciated more and more as time rolls on. In the two. outstanding attractions of the colony—the thermal regions of the North and the cold lakes and mountain scenery of the South - the provision of nieaiir, of easy access and for the comfort of patrons has rightly received a very considerable amount of attention, but we do not consider lliat il is necessary to rush the devclopnieiil of other by-attractions, the cxpcndil lire on uliich does not immediately serve the dual purposes of utility and its immaterial antithesis. In oilier word*, while settlement is being ivlard.'d oy lack of good roads and we are not unmindful ilull a commendable cncigv i* being shown iu this department under I lie Ward (lovernnient—we consider thai money should not lie lavished on purely tourist roads unless these roads are in districts suitable for settlement. So long as these by-attractions are lieing preserved, they ean well await a gradual process of exploitation and development. The development of less inaccessible scenic and health resorts, expenditure on which would bring an immediate and assured return, should appeal to the Tourist Department a„ a better business proposition. and one likely to popularise i|s existence with our own people, whose interests, we are afraid, give the tourist ollicers hvs concern than do the whims and pleasures of the wealthy globetrotter. In this connection, Taranaki, probably more than any province in the Dominion can oli'er unrivalled attractions to seekers of scenic bounty or health, and at a minimum of cost. Prob ably because of its very accessibility ami its inexpensivoness, the Mount Egjnont. trip has been overlooked by the Department whose business, we presume, is to eater for the pleasure of sight-seers. No town in the Dominion can oiler eiputl attractions almost at it rt door. Approachable from New Plymouth by metalled roads. Mount Kgliinnt oilers all thai the amateur mountaineer, the lover of unlive bush, or the seeker of pure mountain air desires Furtlu'r. uobably i o sylvan and mountain resort in New Zealand attracts anvthing like the patronage bestowed ou l'.guiout by the people living within sight of i1 ri noble eminence. The very fact that its surroundings act as a mai; net to its own people, thai close ou six thousand people annually visit the mountain house-, and that hundreds more are deterred only by lite lark nl adequate provision for their condor:, should be conclusive evidence that, were il IhorollL'hlv expluiied. jl WOlild be visiled annually by lens of thousands. What we desire 10 impress i ri thai, at a ininiiilll in of cost, (be average seeker after res!. holiilav. or change of scene has it provided lor him ai a local i"e. that need not lake him more llian abonl three hours' drive irom railway or town. With the small annual pittance provided bv the Government and the revenue from Ihe mountain trallic the Kginont National Park Hoard has accomplished splendid Nvorli. but Hie trallic Ins far outgrown the resources of the lieavd to properly accommodate and deal wilh. It is now desired that (he Tourist Department. should devote a litt.le of ilenterprise to catering for this increasing patronage. The Board does not desire that the present inexpensive class of accommodation should lie done away with, but that superior tourist accommodation house,< should he provided for those who are indisposed to. comparatively speakinu-. "rough it' under present'condition*. The matter, we iinil.-r----star.d. is to be brought umbo- the not of the Premier to morrow, and we haveven- conlidcn-e. knowing Jhe import ance Sir ,!o-eph Vard attaches to the development ..f the »•?«''" •illy, tliat -run iliir.ir will 1".- <low' in I'tMjuii'fil divM-tinn.