MAYOR REPLIES

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 345, 5 October 1932, Page 6

MAYOR REPLIES

ECONOMY REPORT CRITICISM OF FINDINGS IN REGARD TO ROTORUA ; incorrect premises Since the report of the Economy Commission very vitally affected Rotorua, the Mayor (Mr. T. Jackson) has issued a reply setting out the point of vi'ew of the residents of Rotorua and its environs. Interviewed yesterday by a "Morning Post" representative Mr. Jackson made the following statement: — Pumice Land Settlement "It is with a certain amount of •diffidence, "said Mr. Jackson, "that one ventures a criticism of the Economy Commission's report when one has not had the. opportunity of perusing the report in full; yet sufficient has appeared in the Press reports to cause those, who are more conversant with the local eonditions than the commissioners appear to be, to contest strongly the accuracy of their deductions." "When one considers the sweeping and extravaganfc statement that the agricultural development of the pumice lands is still in the experimental stage, one is tempted to aslc that qualifications these worthy gentl'emen possess to express an opinion on this subject. Do they know that the local butter factory will this season manufacturo one thousand tons of butter from butterfat produced on these pumice lands ? Are they aware of the fact that for many years past hundreds of farmers in this district have been successfully farming pumice lands without the advice or assistance of Government experts ? Do they know that those farmers have brought virgin land into a high state of production at a cost in most cases not exceeding seven pounds per acre?" "If they do not know these things, one can only ask from what tainted source have they drawn the evidence upon which their deductions have been based?" Statement Inaccurate "Without venturing to express an opinion as to the wisdom or otherwise of the Native Department's land purchases, I must protest against the statement that the 2,600 acres referred to is bushsick. This area is adjoining my farm, being separated from it only by a wire fence and I have seen sick stock brought from acknowledged bushsick land completely recovev on this property. "On my own farm I have six generations of dairy stock bred on the place which have never been oi? the property. No licks of any sort have been used and the sixth generation eompares fa.vourably in quality and vitalitv with the original stock. In the face of such facts it is diffieult to justify the commission's sweeping assertion. Lack of Vision "However valuable some of the commisision's recommendations may be, it is very disappointing to find that they are so lacking in vision that they fail to realise the vast potential value of the tourist business to this eountry. "This value cannot be estimated merely in terms of £ s. .d and it would be the height of folly to hand u\-er important national assets, such maiij, of our tourist resorts are, to private enterprise for exploitation un the grounds that they do not sliow a direct cash profit. "So far as the commission's references to the relations between the Rotorua Borough Council and the Tourist Department are concerned, one can only assume that these arise out of their ignorance of the p'ast history of the development of the town. "Tho recommendation that the borough should be required to take over the water and sewerage services which are operated at a loss, whilst the Government retain the electrical supply showing a substantial profit, is almost Gilbertian. That these services are essentially a borough func-

tion none will dispute and they have been the subject of discussion between the borough . and the department for some considerable time. Not So Simple "The solution is not so simple as would at first appear, as the Government is the largest individual user of these services. No local authority would be justified in taking over services which are^ known to be inadequate, at a capitalisation in excess of their actual value. "It must be borne in mind that had these services been installed by a local authority in the first place and the normal sinking funds maintained, the cost of installation would by now have been practically liquidated. "Much more could be said on- this subject and one can only trust that before any of the recommendations are acted up'on the evidenoe which the Borough' Council is in a position to give will receive consideration.