M.P.’s ON TOUR.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 30, 4 February 1913, Page 7

M.P.’s ON TOUR.

IN CENTRAL OTAGO. MR. MINE SPEAKS PLAINLY.. BUT HAS THE TABLES TURNED ON HIM. At Roxburgh (says the Star’s correspondent) only two North Island members voiced their opinions, and only one (Mr Hine) spoke of tnc railways. Mr Hine was at least candid, and he counselled all people to view the matter from' a business standpoint. He advocated full consideration of their possibilities in utilising Central Otago’s water power to generate electricity. It therefore behoved Ministers to collect all the data possible, for surely in Otago there were grounds for assuming that in regard to mines and works there were two sides to every question. Therefore) they were under the necessity of finding out what the results of the proposed railway would be before it could be authorised, and until that information was forthcoming no member was in a position to say whether the requisitionists were entitled to get a railway or not. If all the land they had viewed would respond to the application of water as the present irrigated areas had responded, then they had a rich country indeed all along the route the party had travelled.

Mr W. Craig completely answered Mr Hine by pointing out that previous Governments had attained such information, which supplied convincing proofs of the productivity of the country. It was estimated at that time that the line would return 3-) per cent on the capital outlay, but since then development has increased. The Teviot fruit growers would be willing to go the length of paying a levy oh each case of fruit', in addition to freightage, if the railway were given to them. “EQUAL TO THE NORTH.” / i

| Mr Wilkinson, M.P. for Egmont, said to a Dunedin Star reporter that it seemed to him that the greatest want of Central Otago was water for irrigation purposes, and that many of the areas still held by the Crown were eminently suitable for irrigation and closer settlement. The keynote of the Massey Government’s policy was settlement of the lands and still closer settlement wherever possible. Districts such as Cromwell Flat and Gallaway Flat, if properly irrigated, should be capable of growing anything, ft occurred to him that such lands would grow grass equal to anything in the North Island, and there was no reason why the dairying industry could not be taken up profitably, by the settlers. Other products might be grown with advantage to the settlers in additioii to grain and fruit. In certaih parts‘the settlers were insistent \lpon a railway being built, but, of course, that opened up a large question, as in many districts ,ip other parts of the dominion similar claims were being advanced. Consequently it would be very difficult to build individual lines without taking into consid.eration the requirements of the other districts when, it is a matter of Votes. But, \in respect to irrigation, there are not many other districts with similar necessities, and certainly any reasonable irrigation vote asked for by the Minister will be cordially supported by the whole House. Speaking generally, it would be better for the settlers of Otago Central to lose no opportunity of developing and advancing the productiveness of their districts, and then it would only be a question of time when they would enjoy the benefits of railway communication. The hospitality accorded to the visitors had been unbounded, and in that particular the settlers of Central Otago could not be excelled in any other part of the dominion. YET ANOTHER TRIBUTE.

What do the Northern politicians think about the present conditions and needs of Central Otago? (asks the Star). They have not hesitated to confess publicly on many occasions that they have been agreeably surprised at the fertility and extent of pastoral, agricultural, and fruit-grow-ing land, and that the chief 1 , needs are irrigation and cheap means of transportation. Observe the opinions of ,\>r H. J. Okey, M.P. (New Plymouth), a farmer with abiding memories of. the meadows in Caranaki. Speaking at Lowburu Creek farm, he said:— ’' ' If I were a young man I would not be afraid to come to Central Otago to make a living. And J feel that I could do it. We agree that the wants of Otago Central are' the same as those in northern districts. We want assistance in the building of railways. The people of Central Otago want a railway to get your produce to the market, for it is impossible for the farmers to pay £2 a ton to get produce to Clyde, and 30s more to have it taken to the ultimate market, and be thoroughfully successful. We all-have to unite. Northern members should unite to help to get the Otago Central people’s lines, and Southern people ought to unite to help Northern settlers obtain their 'railways. As a result of my visit, I shall be able to speak, from personal knowledge. There is a new era coming to your district. Mining is done, and you must now rely on the land. You will find that the party that was represented will help you to get over the stile. I hope yen will prosper in the future unde- t.:e reign of my party more than jou have done in the past. When a Taranaki farmer rpeahr-: r.-j candidly of the conditions and nerdrt of Central Otago, surely Dunedin p. )- pie, to say nothing of their neignhours south and north, should “tak’ heed and mend” their misty views, « A VISIT TO ' SOUTHLAND. ' Invercargill, February 2. The group cf touring North Island

members of Parliament were met on Friday afternoon at Tapanui by pro-; minent Southlanders, and have since: been touring in the Southland rural i district. On Saturday they left Gore i in the morning and visited Mataura, 1 Wyndham and the Fortrose districts, j arriving in Invercargill in the even- 1 ing. To-day they motored to the j western districts in the vicinity of | the Waiau river. ' To-morrow they i will continue their tour towards Lums- ' den, and will return to join the northern express t Gore. The members express themselves as most favourably impressed at the quality of rural Southland, and astonished at the enormous area of land suitable for cultivation.