POLITICAL NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 September 1919, Page 5

POLITICAL NEWS.

KAURI GUM. AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY SITE. (By Wire.—Own Corresponodent.) Wellington, Last Night. The House had a short sitting tonight. Auckland members showed some interest in the Kauri Gum Industry Dill, which gives the Government power to let gum lands on renewable lease, and otherwise to assist the development of the gum industry. They mentioned the Pukau swamps, which ean bo made to deliver up their gum in the form of oil and spirit by processes of distillation. These swamps, containing the refuse of kauri forests, are stated to be capable of producing gum to the value of one hundred millions under proper treatment, but costly plant u required, and companies must have adequate areas and secure tenure before they will proceed. Another Auckland matter was the Auckland University Site Bill, which compromises on an old dispute. Auckland wants a university site, and possesses an old Government House standing on ten or eleven acres of ground. This ground would be a fine site for the university, and at various times the removal pf Government House has been proposed, but Auckland clings to the relic of the days when she was the capital of the colony. The Bill proposes to take nearly four acres for a university site, and leave Government House intact. Mr. Payne protested that this was pandering to the "tinpot" nobility of Auckland. Members were agreed that the site was too small, but they were also agreed that the choice was four acres or nothing. Mr. Massey advised the Dominion to treasure its historic buildings, and predicted that "ventually the universities would move into the country and use sites extending to hundreds of acres. Both the Bills, were passed before the House rose. .