A STATE TOWN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 March 1939, Page 8

A STATE TOWN

ACTIVITIES IN ROTORUA. OUTLINED BY MINISTER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The selling by the Government of New Zealand’s products of the soil, its scenery, weird wonders of the thermal district and trout in the lakes and streams, was linked up with the present activity in industrial development during the hearing of a local body deputation by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr Parry, yesterday. It was stated by the deputation that the Government not only in a general way carried out the functions of a borough council, but the functions of an-ac-climatisation society, in that it controlled. the principal activities in Rotorua —scenic and thermal rights, the gardens, swimming baths and pools, trout fishing, ga'me shooting and the sanatorium. « “The State,” said one speaker, “is already in every pie in Rotorua and perhaps Taupo, bcause it sells to overseas and New Zealand visitors 1 all there is to sell there and pays the Maoris some £6OOO a year for rights over the two lakes. That system was established with some'success years ago by the then Government, and was reaffirmed

by the present Government as it was, I suppose, in line with its policy to work a practical flourish with the industries of the Dominion, whether they be of scenery, butter, cheese or general manufactures.” Mr Parry said the facts about Rotorua were well stated. It was virtually a State town. The Government controlled many of Rotorua’s activities, but an efficient council and a wideawake mayor attended to borough matters. With general and local government control Rotorua, its novel arid magnetic attractions, had not been allowed to slip' back. There had been in recent years a remarkable development in the thermal district from all standpoints, particularly in the improvements made in ■ facilities to enable the people to enjoy scenic wonders and beauties, fishing and other sports and-in the bringing in fer cultivation wide areas of agricultural land. " ' “The manuka and bracken scrub which not long ago flourished in and around Rotorua has been cleared away,” said the Minister. “Today the heart of the farmer visitor is gladdened by the sight of splendidly cultivated farms which almost surround this wonderfully interesting arid charming town. It is a district to which any Government and the people it serves could refer with genuine enthusiasm.’