TAUPO LANDS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1586, 1 November 1912, Page 6

TAUPO LANDS.

LIGHT RAILWAY PROPOSAL. ' DISCUSSED IN PARLIAMENT. PRIME MINISTER TO VISIT BISTRICT. The report of tho Special Parliamentary Committee set up to inquire into tho' petition of tho Taupo-Totara Company for permission to extend ita light railway to Lake Tanpo was discussed by the Houso of Representatives for about au hour last evening. Mr. G.' J. Anderson (Mataura), chairman of tlio Select Committee set up to inquire into the -petition, moved that tho report lie on tho tablo and bo recoiuineiided to the Government for consideration. Mr, W. D. S, Macdouald (Bay of Plenty) moved an amendment to make tho recommendation "favourable con. sideration." Mr.-A. M. Myers. (Auckland East) seconded the amendment. Mr. ,T. Payjiu (Grey Lynn) opposed the amendment. Mr. W. C. Buchanan (Wairarspi) said that in his opinion tho Committee had not had (sufficient evidence before it to justify it in coming to a conclusion that the Tnupo country could be occupied with success in comparatively small areaa even with the advantage of railway communication. He knew that some other members of tho Committeo wore not in accord with Wm in this. Concluding, Mr. Buchanan said that ho would vote against tho amendment. Company's Proposal Suppprtes. Mr, A.'M. Myers (Auckland East) said that Mr. Kensington aud several .officers of-the Agricultural Department had given evidence that the Tanpo country' could lie profitably settled in areas of from three to five hundred, acres. There was no doubt that root crops could be growji. Tho evidence taken by tho- Committeo ■ did not justify the position taken up by Mr. Buchanan. As,a-representative of the Auckland district he hoped that some consideration ' would )m shown to the Taupo-Totara Co. The extension of the line to Taupp would open up large areas of Crown and Native land, and afford theiji access to ports. Means , of access would also bring . tho Taupo district into favour as a health resort. • ■ . v . Mr. C. K. Wilson (Tauniariinui) said that the committee had not had sufficient evidence-before it to enable it to' foi-m i definite conclusion, jispert evidence had shown conclusively: that this country oould be opened up. It might bs best to utilise this-light line.in Opening.up the country, but tho best tliirig to do would be to adjourn the matter.so that it could be inquired into thoroughly.' . Mr. L. M. Jsitt (Christchuroh North)' expressed a hope that the amendment would bo withdrawn. Members had not had time to peruse the evidence, arid vet they were asked to go further than the committee in. commending the proposal of the .company, to the House.. ('■ ." The Amendment Withdrawn. < Mr. Macdouald; said that his ameridment -would not have committed the House, but that, as'it seemed to be the general desire of the House -that these words should not be added to the motion he would ask leave .to withdraw the .amendment. Permission was given, and the amendment was withdrawn.- ... What the-Government Intends. I The Prime Minister said, that the withdrawal of the amendment made it almost I:unnecessary for him to speak. -He'had , intended to. ask. that the amendment • should.be withdrawn, and to point out what the effect'would be if it were agreed to by the fiouse. He wished to point out the .position as. it appeared,to Aim. The petition had'come along in tho or-. 'dinary way, and had been referred to a Special Committee l which had gone into I the. matter-exhaustively A It wps .o.bsp.-., lutely impossibleSfori anyimeiuber-.0f..t0.e 'House to have'raad the whole of the. evidence. Ho' did not propose to, go into the .details of the proposal, rhtmgb, it would be easy for him to do so,"α^rid. perhaps to show that they were unworkable. After •reading the. findings of. the Committee, Mr. Massey:said that as he understood it the princ;ip«l,-.and, in fact, only.recommendation of ,the Committee was that-the Goternment should back,.tho coinnany. with a guarantee of for the purpose of extending the line to TaUpo, flow many members,of the House-knew enough about the matter to Say whether this was a proper, and businesslike- proposal; from the. Government point. of view ? It might, bo- absolutely right, but they did 1 not know it. He proposed,' as Minister for Lands, to visit the district.at an early\ period during the recess, if ,it was possible for him to do so, and then lie would be in a position to make a.roeommendation to'his colleagues. ; He expressed no opinion- on the recommendation, because it was impossible for him tor exoress an opinion worth taking until he h'ad eeen (he district for himself. He" would ask lion; membevs to leave the matter to the Government, and they ivould be .able to bring up a recommendation in one direction or the other next Session. . : 'Mi\ D. Buiok (Palmerston North) Said that he hoped this proposal would-be very carefully considered by. tho Government. He. believed that the Taiipo district would be- just as good as the Waikato (which had once been looked upon" , as a. wilderness) if cheap means ot transport were ■provided. He-looked!, upon Wairakei as.one ' of the greatest thermal attractions in New Zealand, and the sooner it wes opened , to tourist traffic the better. It would be fifty years hefore Rotorua and Tanpo were connected by. rail. They must take advantage of what they had got. The tramway of, the Taupe Company would connect up both Taupo and Wairakei at slight cost. A guarantee of ,£50,()00 or .£60,000 would open up a great country, and would bring private capital into play where Dominion ■capital was'not yet available. '. Mr. J. A. Young , (Waikato) said that the skilful' Application.'of • artificial, mantilies had tfiad'o tho Waikata tho gnrden [of New Zealand. (Xoud. protests.) : Mr. Buick; One of them! . "-.- ' i Mr. You-ng said that much of the land in the Taupo district was similar to that iu the Waikafo district. Mr. Young coni tended that the Taupo Totata Company had laid reasonable proposals before the Government, which, deserved to be favourably considered. It had been demonstrated that in tho Taupo district fat lambs could be produced which were equal to anything produced tn this country. Tho great difficulty at present was fl. 'lack of means of transport., He commejided tlw I proposal of tlie conjpaaiy to the Government. Hβ was satisfied that the proposition of the company was a sound one and a good one, raid tliat its adoption would benefit Now Zealand. , A Valuable Opportunity. Mr. G. J. Anderson said, ia replying, ; that the committee had had ample evi-l-deuce before it, but he agreed with t"e mem. ber for Tattumrum tbat.it would have boeii as well for the committee to visit the Taupo .district. Ho did hot agree with Mr, Myers that tliis railway would tend to β-ugment the tourist traffic. If the prayer of the petitioners-was granted, tho lino would be, a light one on which no greater speed could be achieved than twenty miles ten hour. Tourists rather than- be restricted to this speed would preifor. to travel by motor-car. It was more important that there were two'mil"lion acres of land to be opened up.Evidenco wa-s conclusive that to successfully bi-eak in this land, cheap transport' cif manures must be provided. This implied that tlie light railway would have to be utilised. It really came back to a matter of policy. If the Government intended to go in for a system of light branch lines,.this.was a very admirable, proposition, \yhieh could be adopted .at slight risk. He knew that tho Railway Department ' did not apgrove of three ejjeap lines, but operated successfully in other coutnes, and ho saw no -reason, why. they should not be operated suceessfuUv in Ne,w Zealand. This was an opportunity to test the. value of light lines practically at the expense of the cqmpany. The report of the. committee was laid on the table, and referred to the Government for consideration.

M. Eigoreau, Consul-General'of France, is coming from Auckland/to be present at the Fete Annuolio of the French Club on Tuesday, next. . A r.otice relating to a Mastevton stock sale 'to be held on. Xovember 6, is inlerted in , pur auction ctilumas bj JlesKe, "■•■•-4