“SEE FOR YOURSELF”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 772, 19 September 1929, Page 1

“SEE FOR YOURSELF”

MR. VAILE’S INVITATION TO COMMITTEE ADVANTAGES OF PUMICE LAND Press Association WELLINGTON, Today. Further evidence in support of the petition of Ernest Edward Vaile and others asking for a resumption of the Rotorua-Taupo’ railway was heard before the M to Z Public Petitions Committee today. Concluding his own evidence, Mr. Vaile invited members of the committee to visit the district so they could see the possibilities of it. The chairman expressed his thanks, and said he would look into the legality of such a procedure. Mr. Vaile submitted a written offer of his land at Waiotapu at the present value. He detailed the extent of the areas in forest, and said he anticipated that about 30 years after planting there would be a production of 750,000,000 feet per annum, or double the cutting of all mills in New Zealand today. If it was desired to resume the land for agriculture it would have benefited by the forest growth on it. Mr. Vaile confirmed the statements of other witnesses that the land could be brought in quickly and was suitable for close settlement and small holdings. “We court inquiry into the productiveness of this land,” said Mr. Vaile. “We have everything to gain and nothing to lose by the fullest inquiries, but we do object to people coming from a totally different country and condemning it. We want experienced men from the Waikato who have had experience in that land to come and have a look at the country 1 am speaking of. One thousand acres in this country supports a larger and more vigorous population and holds more wealth than 10,000 acres of blue papa country.” Mr. Vaile said the climate was most invigorating and offered tourist possibilities and also change for people living on the sea-coast. Favourable reports hadjbeen made on the sulphur and oil deposits in the district and there was no reason why the railway should not be paid for by an assessment on the land that would be served and on timber that would be released. Some years ago people had agreed to such an assessment, but the offer had been turned down, practically without consideration. They would sooner have the present road than a bitumen one, along which it would be impossible to drive stock. The would cost as much as the railway. The commission adjourned till Tuesday.