TAUPO RAILWAY

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 8, 4 October 1929, Page 13

TAUPO RAILWAY

LAND SETTLEMENT PROBLEM A DOMINION LIABILITY WOOD PULP PROSPECTS Statements that in his opinion the position with regard to farm settlement would not be appreciably improved if the Rotorua-Taupo railway line were proceeded with, and that the quality of native timber estimated td come off the land had been exaggerated, were made by the Assistant Director of Agriculture when giving evidence before the Committee of Inquiry yesterday.

Mr. A. H. Cockayne, Assistant Director of Agriculture, continuing his evidence, said, in reply to Mr. R. Semple (Labour, Wellington East) that the potentialities of the pumice land were high, but it could only be developed by heavy expenditure. The best portion might possibly be broken without any loss to the State at the finish. But the

development could best be undertaken by private enterprise if such were prepared to take it up. The question of watering should be re-examined fully, because the land was porous, and the water might ha ve to be conveyed to the farms by pipes. Mr. H. R. Jenkins (United, Parnell): Although' you consider an area of ISO acres an .ideal, pumice holding, are you avzare there are subdivisions there of 700 acres?—“ln that case there must be some serious objection to a smaller, subdivision.” ’ Settlement Before Railway. To Mr. F. Lye (United, Waikato) witness said that to bring the land to a fit * condition for dairying might mean about twelve years. Mr. Lye: Have you formed an opinion whether this railway is justified at this juncture?—“l should say no.” Ybu would advocate a good road?— “Closer settlement should precede the railway.” Mr. A. M. Samuel (Reform, Thames): Would a State scheme of group settlement, capitalising wages and improvements, be an economic success?—“l do not think so, on the average.” Supposing the State started off on a scheme of that kind with a 200,000-acre area? —"I think if the Government tried to supply all the labour and expenses of breaking in, it would be -necessary to write off a considerable amount of money, as you could hot load the final settler with the whole cost. The best of the land would be worth about £3O an acre when brought into ultimate productivity.” Further examined, witness said it would cost about £3O an acre to make the land productive, and enable a good living to be made on a small holding, as the fencing alone would run into £4 an acre. Mr. Samuel: Oh, no. ' Witness: I do not agree that the pumice area presents all the possibilities for a good Government scheme. The Minister of Public Works (Hon. E. A. Ransom) : Will the district grow again?—“l do not know much about that point, but as the work will probably be done by tractors there will be no need for oat-growing. On the whole, one would deprecate the growing of grain. The chairman (Colonel T. W. McDonald, United, Wairarapa) : I have heard very little this morning about the railway, and I am afraid we are getting well away from the subject. The Minister: We have the chance now of obtaining full information on the matter, but I have finished my questions. A Dominion Liability. The chairman (to witness): Would not the proposed development of this pumice area mean a repetition of the soldier settlement difficulty, and involve a revaluation of holdings?—“l am rather inclined to think that, but I must put in a proviso that the development of the better pumice country is a liability that the whole Dominion has to face. You have come to the conclusion that there is no justification for the Government deciding to reverse their decision, and go on again with the construction of the line?—“l do not think the construction of the railway is likely to improve the position very appreciably from the farm settlement point of view at the present time.” Mr. E. Vaile: Have you ever been a practical farmer?—“l know nothing about farming. I have been 25 years in the Department, and I have been on more farms than any other person in New Zealand, probably, and have a good, plain acquaintance with farm work.” Further questioned, witness said he could see considerable discontent arising, if settlers were placed on the pumice lands under a State-aided scheme of finance, the ordinary pioneer settler in that respect being always prepared in the past to shoulder his financial responsibilities himself. The chairman again reminded the Committee that the railway question was being overlooked, and the inquiry would last weeks longer unless they kept to the point. Mr. Vaile: In your opinion. Mr. Cockayne, settlement must precede the railway?—“l do not say that, but that it can quite well precede it, as has been the case in other parts of the Dominion.” Timber. Pulping IndustryArnold Hanson, Chief Inspector of Forests, said his duties were mainly technical. consisting chiefly in measuring timber. The Rotorua plantations were so near the town that the railway would not make a very great difference one way or another. The plantation at Waiotapu might benefit by a line running along it. Some of the blocks of native timber were far removed from the route. The use of the timber on the area for pulping purposes would depend upon where the pulping plant was established. Indications so far were that it would probably be placed on the coast of the Bay of Plenty, perhaps at Tauranga, because coal supplies must be readily available. The trees in the State plantation would be available at about 30 years of age. For milling purposes 40 years wonld be the required age. To Mr. Lye, witness replied that •he was inclined to think that the quantity of native timber, estimated to come off the land to be served by the proposed line, had been exaggerated. Mr. Lye: Summing up the position, you hold that even if there were an up-to-date pulping industry started, the probability would be that the timber supplies would not travel over the proposed line? —“Most probably not.” The committee adjourned until Tuesday. ,