Much Yet to be Done

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 40, 17 February 1937, Page 5

Much Yet to be Done

To Open Up Dominion’s Tourist Attractions MINISTER SETS INVESTIGATIONS AFOOT. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night. Completing an inspection of the work of the game aud fisheries branch of the Department of Internal Affairs iu the Lakes district in the north, Hon. W. E. Parry has returned to Wellington convinced that much remained to be done in opening up for the people’s enjoyment, further extensive territory in Rotorua and Taupo. The Minister travelled with executive officers of the department over some of the lakes and rivers which, by reason of their not having been developed for utilisation, would probably not be familiar even to very many New Zealanders who had made frequent visits to Rotorua and Taupo. The functions of the Department of Internal Affairs, with which were allied the activities of the Tourist and Publicity Department, already embraced a wide interest in the country’s attractions for the people. He hoped that with his colleagues whose departments were affected, greater efforts than in the past would be made to bring about a full and proper development of those valuable attractions.

“It is not novel to hear of New Zealand as a country extolled from all angles by visitors from abroad,” he stated, 1 ‘but I do not think our own people quite appreciate all the good things which make their land the envy of other countries. I met in my travels many overseas people out here for sight-seeing, fishing and all-round enjoyment. They were emphatic in their remarks that we had everything to offer them to meet the most fastidious tastes and surprise was expressed that New Zealanders themselves were not making full use of the attractions in the way tho people of the visitors’ countries would make use of them had they the same advantages. New Zealand’s scenic beauties, they said, charmed them. The fisheries gave them the maximum of thrills and excitement and with all the sunshine and brightness of the atmosphere in a wonderful climate which brought them back to good health.” The Minister said he had seen many well-conditioned fish being proudly carried along scrub-covered tracks from lakes and rivers by anglers who had caught them. “If we can keep up that standard of fish,” Mr. Parry said, “all interested will have reason to feel satisfied. It was to ascertain what further methods the Department of Internal Affairs could adopt quite apart from the work which the Fish Research Department is now engaged on, that I confined a good deal of my time on the investigations made. There are many problems yet to solve but I am hopeful that the visit will enable an impetus to be given to quick development on the lines decided on.”