THE TAUPO RAILWAY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 85, 30 September 1911, Page 2

THE TAUPO RAILWAY

THE PARLIAMENTARY OMMITTEE. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellingtgon, Yesterday. The Parliamentary Committee which is reporting on the petition of the Taupo Totara Timber Company met again to-day. The chairman read a telegram from a meeting held at Futaruru, urging a favorable consideration of the company's proposals. A similar message was also received from the Taupo District Railway League.

Edward Earle Vaile, a farmer at Waiotapu, owning C53,((00 acres, said the proposed line would go within live miles of his land. lie thought the Government should construct the line from Rotorua to Taupo, and its success would be assured by the tourist traflic alone, but it was improbable that the line would be started within the next thirty year; therefore private enterprise should be encouraged, and he did not think the Government right of purchase should be exercised for a reasonable period, lie suggested that the company might be allowed to charge higher rates than the State did, for, say. five years. He did not oppose the company's land purchase proposal. . Replying to questions, witness said the scheme would undoubtedly do harm to Rotorua. lie thought the company had acquired the actual thermal sites, and this should be safeguarded against. He had been fanning for lour years, and he was more satisfied every day that the country would be occupied by close settlement.

Tho chairman: Which. in your opinion. would lie the best line for the whole district? Witness: The lino from Hotorua. as tlic re is settlement on that route. There is little or none 011 the other. Replying to Mr. Dalziell, witness said that although he thought the RotornaTaupo line the heller one. he now favored the company's proposals on the principle that half a loaf was better than no bread. William Lonis Luxfnrd. a farmer of Hamilton, also strongly supported the company's proposals.