THE TRUTH ABOUT PUMICE

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 59, 7 September 1931, Page 6

THE TRUTH ABOUT PUMICE

Since the Government purchased something over 20,000 acres of land in the Rangitailu Valley at between £4 and £5 an acre (Galatea estate) no big individual land development scheme has been in the limelight. It is now announced, however, that the long-talked-of Taupo scheme has advanced to the stage, of special investigation by a" technical committee. For years New Zealand has been waiting to hear something definite about the degree of economic success attained on the prison farms, and whether conclusions reached about these Taupo farms are applicable to the other pumice lands alongside of them. There is, of course, pumice and pumice. What may be true of 5000 acres—either as regards grass or trees—may not be true of 150,000 acres. The Government's reticence in years past has rather shaken the confidence of well-wishers; at the same time, everyone must realise that to make an economic pronouncement about pumice land in the present marketing outlook of: its products is to take a great responsibility. It is reasonable to hope, however, that the committee reports on the 150,000 acres near Taupo should end up by really saying something., The land cost should be low, more than half being Crown-owned.