THE TAUPO TIMBER COMPANY.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14162, 30 September 1911, Page 5

THE TAUPO TIMBER COMPANY.

EVIDENCE IN SUPPORT OP PETITION.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TBLEOEIM.) WEILLLNGTON, September 29. Th© Parliamentary Committoo which w reporting on the petition of the Taupo Totara Timber Company, met again to-day. , Tho Qbairman read a telegram from a meeting held at Putaruru, urging the favourable consideration of tho company's proposals. A similar message was also read from the Taupo District Haihvay League. Edward Earlo Vaile, a farmer at \V aiotapu owning 53,000 acres of laad, eaid that the proposed line would go within five miles of his land. Hβ thotrght the Government should conetrnot tho lino from Itotorua to Taupo, ; and its euocese would be assured by the tourist tragic alone; but it was improbable that the line , would be etarted within tho next thirty years. Therefore private enterprise should be encouraged, and be did not think tho Government's right of purchase should bo exercised for a reasonable period. He suggested that the company might be allowed to charge higher rates than the State did for, cay, five years. He did not oppose the company's land purchase proposal. Implying to questions, witness said that the scheme would undoubtedly do barm to Rotonia. Ho had been farming for four years, and ho was more satisfied every day that the country would be eocupied by close settlement. The Chairman: Which in yonr opinion would be tho best lino for tho whole district? Witness: The line from Ilotorua, as there is settlement on the route. There is little or none on the other. Replying to Mr Daiziell, witness said that although he thought the BotoruaTaupo lino a better ono, he now favoured the company's proposals, on tho principle that half a loaf was better than no bread. Williant Louis Luiford, farmer at Hamilton, ahvo strongly supported the company's proposals.