PARLIAMENTARY INDUSTRIES COMMITTEE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 209, 29 May 1919, Page 6

PARLIAMENTARY INDUSTRIES COMMITTEE

ITS VISIT TO GREYTOWN. Sir,—The above committee paid a visit to Greytown, but the Mayor was in Wellington (and also tho Town Clerk) attending the Town-planning Conference. Why it should take, two to represent Groylown is not explained. The .oxMayor had to be called in to meet "the committee and give evidence; also Mr. J. F. Thompson, president of the Chamber 6f Commerce, and Mr. Webster, secretary to the local cheese factory. Mr. Loasby, in his evidence, dealt principally with regard to fruit production, ar.d Mr. Thompson on establishing local industry and the railway deviation. Mr. Webster endorsed tho remarks of Iho previous speakers. In speaking to the above, I wish to point out. arid have it known to the onfside wdrld, that, ( notwithstanding tho ;?ibe from one of 'the members ("Why don't you boom the place? "Why, wo never head of Greytown!") we aro now progressing here. A few ; years ago the orchards were simply "gardens," but now we have several very large orchard*. Tho Messrs. Tato (2), Loasby, Jvidd and Burch, particularly, grow fruit by the. acre. Then the Orchard Company havi! over <i 'hundred acres in apples. All these orchards have been ablo to place all their fruit, and no doubt more orchards will soon como into existence.

The Chamber of Commerce is a new institution heto, and the writer has, for years, fought to get one established, and now he hopes to see Greytown "get its own." The growing of fruit implies tha |j sooner or later a factory- must be'built, to preserve fruits and vegetables, and where could you got a better nlaco than Greytown, in the valley, for such an institution? We havo land of varying quality, that will grow all fruit*—apf pics, pears, quinces, all stone fruits gooseberries, etc., currants, etc.. that can bo bought at a low figure. Wb will .have the hydro-electric power system here shortly, either from the Waiohinti River or Mangahao. This will givn us power, and our land at present is cheap. • Why should not factories for all classes get 'over "the hill"? The railway must be diverted sooner or later As'soon as >vo get a united Wairarapa and can positively say which is the most beneficial route, tho Government must move in the matter, because it is a paying proposition to it as well as an incentive to industries in the Wairarapa. Whether the route- be via Wairarana of Tauherenikau is not of so much consequence as to get it done. Greytown )s so situated that il v must benefit either way. I recommend the moeting of the representatives of the various centres to discuss this important matter and gee it settled once and for all. To put the matter in a nutshell, w> want a nuick and cheap transit to tho Empire City, and then Greytown must bo i\ srreat producing and manufacturingdistrict. Railway and electricity are .tho dominating factors. Tho largo landholders surrounding Greytown are putting their lands on the market,! and this will lend to closer settlement. All this is a trend in the right direction.— l nm. etc.. M.M.