TAUPO LANDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 228, 26 September 1929, Page 7

TAUPO LANDS.

CASE FOR A RAILWAY.

"MOBILISATION AREA." \

ONE WITNESS FEARS WAR. ,

MAORI MEMBER INTERESTED.

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, this day,

The hearing of evidence on behalf of the Taupo railway petition was continued this morning by the 3*l to Z. Petitions Committee of the House. F. G. Dalziell gave further evidence, stating, in reply to Sir. Vaile, that he did not consider £15,000,000 an excessive amount to cover the cost of developing the pumice area. Mr. H. S. Kyle remarked that the witness had given most inconsistent evidence. The Chairman {Colonel T. W. McDonald): You must not comment on the nature of the witness' evidence. Eustace Lane, farmer, of Wairoa, Hawke's Bay, who came to Wellington at his own expense to give evidence in support of the railway, said that he had found pumice land was the best in the world if properly fertilised. He had no personal interest in pumice land, but considered that had the railway been built 15 years ago the consequential development of settlement would have resulted in the line being fully paid for. Witness said he considered the Prime Minister made a great mistake in stopping the railway, but the chairman said he must not comment on the Government's actions. Mr. Lane: Well, I say'it is utterly absurd to suggest a road, because there : is already enough traffic on the road. Mr. T. Makitanara: You are carried i away with enthusiasm about the completion of the Taupo railway. Mr. Lane: Just whatever you think. Mr. Makitanara: I am asking you. (Laughter.) Mr. Lane: It is for you to decide. I don't think so. The chairman asked witness to be as ■ brief as possible, and Mr. Lane replied that he had been waiting three days for his chance. (Laughter.)

"Perhaps a Million Acres." To Mr. J. N. Massey, witness said he could not estimate the available settlement area to be served by the railway. Perhaps it was a million acres. Even that area would justify the railway. The talk of putting a settler on 50 acres of pumice land was ridiculous, but a great area adjacent to Rotorua could be brought under useful pasture. He would not use lorries for the transportation of stock, as it was not economical. "The construction of the East Coast railway will put 5/ an acre more on my land and give me another £500 a year," said Mr. Lane. A committee member said the Government had done something. Mr. Lane: Excuse me, gentlemen, I think I am giving evidence., The Chairman: I'm just wondering. (Laughter.) Mr. Massey: Are you of the opinion that it is absolutely essential to build a railway to develop the area? Mr. Lane: Absolutely. Mr. H. R. Jenkins: You know the railways don't pay. Mr. Lane: Long lines do. Build this railway from Rotorua straight through to Napier, and it will be the best paying area in N»\v Zealand. To Mr. F. Lye: Hard, rough pumice? country could be brought in for £5 to £10 per acre with a railway, not with"out it.

To Mr. Semple: For 18 years he had advocated the railway. He knew it was a big responsibility to urge the construction of an expensive railway. "Would Hang Departmental Heads." Mr. Semple: You recognise that anyone who advocated a worthless thing should be Imprisoned. Mr. Lane: I would hang him, as I would some of the heads of Departments in Wellington. (Laughter). The Chairman: In view of the fact that there are some railways which run through country which has not been developed, even though there was a'railway, do you think this suggested railway at Taupo would of itself develop the area ? Mr. Lane: I would need to know more about those other areas. Taupo would make a valuable defence mobilisation area. . . Sir. Makitanara: Do you think a foreign army is going in-there to Taupo to attack us? Mr. Lane: My dear sir, do you tliink Germany is going to pay reparations for CO years? The danger to New Zealand is imminent. Mr. Makitanara: Why mobilise in there? Mr. Lane: I know the Maori element would make bravo defenders. (Laughter). Witness added that lie knew something of military tactics, having been a war correspondent under Lord Roberts. The case for the petitioners closed at 11.30 a.m.. and the committee proceeded to other business. ■ Further evidence is to be given by Departmental witnesses.