MR MASSEY'S VISIT TO POVERTY BAY.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14969, 16 May 1914, Page 12

MR MASSEY'S VISIT TO POVERTY BAY.

(special to 'the press.") GISBORNE, May 15. Referring to the outlook to-day the Prime Minister said, so far. as the producers are concerned, things never looked more- prosperous. Hβ was glad to find that this applied not only to Gisborne but to tho Uominion as a whole. The outlook for tho whole Dominion was never better than it was at present, and he went on to refer to the new markets opening up. In past years they. had found the .English markets good markets, but their markets ! had been extended and they were doing an extensive business in Canada and British Columbia. They had two lines of steamers running to Vancouver and San Francisco by which they were doing a large trade. They were al%> doing a rapidlyincreasing trade with the United States. Then there was the Panama Canal, "which would benefit New Zealand. Aii unexpected development had been made with the fruit industry. A few years ago he did not think they would be able to cope with the fruit posts, but these had been effectively- dealt with, and now the foreign demand for New Zealand apples could not be supplied. He was •satisfied that within a few years they would bo exporting a million pounds worth of tipples from Now Zealand to South America, where people were prepared to pay a higher prico than ehewhore. The Prima Minister referred to instances where apparently barren land in Xew Zealand had been turned to apple growing, and it could not be bought now for £20 an acre. He honed tho. industry would be as successful in Auckland as it tue Nelson district. This morning the Prime Minister set out on a visit of inspection of the country along the uisoorne-Motu railway, proceeding,as far as the present railhead at Matawaij 33 miles from Gisborne. The settlers entertained Mr Massey at luncheon at Matawai. Mr W. l>. S. Mac Donald proposed the health of the Prime 'Minister. In doing so the member for the Bay of Plenty said the main complaint of settlers ivns the delay in tho pushing on of the railway, and he did not think Mr Massey could fail to be impressed with the district and its potentialities. Mr Massey, in renlying, said he was quite certain that Poverty Bay was going to be one of the biggest export districts in the T>ominion. He recognised that the railway was of great importance, and he hoped there would he no battle over any route, which would entail great delay. The Government desired to push on railway construction, and he wa-s satisfied that the country between Napier and Waihi was worthy of a' railway. He did not know whether his term of office would be long or sliort. bufc.he wanted before Jio left office to be a bio to travel by train from Wellington to Auckland via the East Coast. He promised that the Government would do .everything in its power to assist the eettlers by way of railway -and public works. Mr Massey loft to-nijrht by the Monowai for Xapier, He will go straight through to Wellington to-mor-row.