PLEA FOR DEVELOPMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 250, 21 October 1919, Page 10

PLEA FOR DEVELOPMENT.

STATE SCHEME XEEDED. (V.y Telegraph—Special to "Star. , ') AVELdUWTOX, .Monday. advocacy of the swtematk development of Xorrh Island pumice lands was put forward by a number oi member* in the House to-nig-ht, when 31 r. A. T. Xgata, in order to discuss the matter, gave notice to introduce the Pumice Lan.U Development Bill. He etated thxt there were immense areae of pumice and gum lands in the S'orth Island, totalling five ni.lliun acres, await ing development. Much of it included fine mining timber. So far as the East C<r3.a-t lands were concerned, all that wii •wanted was a vigorous public work* policy to make the area accessible, bui tlevolopmeat of pumice lands would bi best done on systematic line?. Ex perienee of swamp drainage on llaurak Plains and Ra-ngitaiki showed the valut of Fpeoiali'ing on the subject, intro diioing adequate machinery and a epeciu stall of officers. Success in swamp draJn age well organised was an innpiratioi for those wao wished to undertake th. treatment of this class of pumice land Tile evidence of scientists showed tha lands wouM yield to treatment The chief essentials were cheap transpor end manure. He advocated the eetab {sshmeirt of a Pumice Lands Develop ment Hoard, witi tie powers of th Public Works Department and loca authorities, so that it could build road; bndgos, and railways, and carry out neceeary experiments in utilieati-on of th soil. _\lr. NgdU reminded the Premie thji; in 1911 and \'JV2 a Parliamentar Oommiwee directed special attention it' the value of developing these pumi'j laii'l.-. He urged that in the comin, recess a commission should be set up t report upon a echeme for the develop tDent of pumice lands, and that a Parlia mentary oommitu-e visit them, or, botte still, a tour o' Tarhamentariand be ai ranged. He was convinced that such tour would be more advisable and usefi that the vait. of I'arliamentariaiKi t Samoa.. Air. W. J. Jennings oxpro?eed the cor Tuition that the country did not &uil ciently recognise The valiue of then lairds as future contributors to nations wealth, and urged that attention' h given to the suggestions made by th member for tho Eastern Maori district. .Mr. Young , favoured the setting up of Parliamentary committee rather than x&o v«lI C-oni-TMiseion, contendui" , tli n t Parliamentary committee could do muc useful work ia showing the people of th Country what could be done with t'hes lands. The member for Waikuto warn; Iγ supported the suggestions made fo the development of these lands, wliic he declared, had already lain idle far to long. Several other menabers discussed th subject before the bill was read a firs time.