NEGLECTED OPPORTUNITIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 142, 15 June 1920, Page 4

NEGLECTED OPPORTUNITIES.

The failure of New Zealand fiovernraonts to gather in for the State by (iirret moans a portion of the increase in land values caused by its own enterpcise is raised once more by the construction of its newest branch line. It

was decided last year to connect tlie Xupier-Gisbornc railway by a branch line with the fine natural harbour of ' Waikokopu, which lies behind Mahia. Peninsula, and tlie Wairoa Harbour Hoard hae taken steps to create a port there at a cost of a-quarter of a million. The "Hawke's Bay Tribune" now states that from what it learns nothing has been done to reserve land at Waikokopu in the public interests. Trafficking in sections has already begun near the proposed port, and apparently no one is bothering to ensure that the new township shall be laid out on towii-plunning lines. In other words, if the •■Tribune" is correctly informed, what has happened in many other places is going to happen :it Waikokopu. The new town is going to struggle up in the ojd haphazard way, and values created largely b ypublie enterprise and money are going into private pockets. The "Tribune" points out that the three engineers appointed to report on the creation of a port say that "it would be little less than criminal to lay. out any design of harbour" short of providing eventually for ocean liners, and they recommend that berthage be provided for ships drawing a 8 fuet. These filgineers, therefore, are confident that VYaikokopu has an important future. That being so, the "Tribune" thinks that tin- words "little less than criminal" will apply to shortsightedness with respect to land values and the laying out of the town. It has been urging since the proposal wae first made for using Waikokopu that the .State or the Harbour Board should acquire compulsorily the site of the proposed town, hay it out in the most approved modern plan, and constitute the area an endowment from which revenue could be drawn for the development of the port. The site could now be bought, at little, if anything, more than farming values, and would eventually yield township or even city rentals. Vet, so far as the "Tribune" knows, nothing has been done in this matter. Perhaps the Government fears that if it* -establishes a precedent here it would have to apply the principle wherever it built railways. Whatever its thoughts m»y be on this point, it will find that the "cage of Waikokopu wil lincrease the demand for a more enlightened policy towards laud values so created.