POLITICS ON PUMICE LAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 619, 22 March 1929, Page 8

POLITICS ON PUMICE LAND

NO argument now could jolt the Government out of its determination to smother the late Reform Administration’s impulsive project of constructing a railway from the present railhead at Rotorua to Taupo. “The decision is quite final”: this frank, emphatic declaration was made in the stunned district the other day by the Minister of Lands and Agriculture, who made it clear that any protest against the new Government’s policy would be wholly in vain. Indeed, when a deputation of chagrined residents expressed willingness to take an inch where they could not get an ell, the Hon. G. W. Forbes actually became less sympathetic with a plea for at least a continuation of the Rotorua line to Reporoa. Incidentally, he revealed the inner mind of the Government on the whole question of land settlement in the pumice country. The contention that a railway would give cheaper fertiliser freights to Rep or or. settlers merely amused him. “It would he better for the Government,” the Minister said, with a smile, “to cart the manure to Reporoa, give it to the settlers free, and pay them a bonus.” Many bard opinions have been flung at the pumice country, but that surely was the hardest of them all. Quite obviously throughout the Ministerial tour of the district Mr. Forbes, though agreeably surprised here and there with what competent farmers had achieved on the pumice desert, found nothing to inspire him even to a moderate pitch of political enthusiasm. The viewpoint of the Minister must he respected. Mr. Forbes is a practical farmer, not a hatter. And he is not given to palaver or to gaudy optimism. His own statements explain the reason for his candour: “It is no good painting a rosy picture to induce settlement. ... It is quite evident that it is not a matter of waving a wand to transform bush country into smiling paddocks. It requires a lot of labour and it requires knowledge of farming.” Precisely! But some of those essential requirements have been overlooked by many owners of pumice country who have not tried to develop their holdings. The shadowy prospect of the establishment of a State experimental area in the district together with a comprehensive soil survey may afford some consolation for a disappointed community, but it will not soften, vexation over the abandonment of the projected railway. Faith in politicians and experts is crumbling under the weight of administrative contrarieties. What was the real reason for the Government’s abrupt decision to stop the initial work on the line and dismantle a village of workers? There are occasions, no doubt, when even contrary politicians might deserve praise for wasting money in order to save money, but such times happily are rare. It is a serious business to stop work on an enterprise in which any sum between £50,000 and £IOO,OOO has been spent in a hurry. Why was the policy of the preceding Government so remorselessly condemned by its successor ? Did each Government act upon its own initiative, or did each wisely or unwisely follow the advice of advisory experts who are maintained in good billets largely for the purpose of keeping politicians from going astray? Further, did the expert advisers vary their advice according to the will of the different Administrations? These pertinent questions plainly should he answered and cleared away or there will remain suspicion that the whole sorry business lias been either a political job or a party shuttlecock.