NORTH AUCKLAND.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 53, 13 February 1911, Page 7

NORTH AUCKLAND.

MR. W. F. MASSEY’S IMPRES-i SIONS. Dargaville, Feb. 11. Mr. W. F. Massey (Leader of the Opposition), interviewed before he left Dargaville, stated that what he had seen during his visit had been a revelation to him, “I had no idea there was so much good land in the North,” he said. “Of course, it is not all good, but I saw bright areas of unoccupied Crown and native lands which would gladden the hearts of Southern settlers if they could obtain reasonable areas with prospect of security of tenure. The country is exceptionally well watered by beautiful streams running over gravel, and there is no place south of the line so well off for harbours as the Far North.” Mr. Massey added that his visit to the North had been an education and a revelation to him. The land round Kaikohe was second to none in the Dominion, and it was a disgrace to everybody concerned that it should be allowed to lie idle. The North was capable of carrying a large population—probably 50 persons for every one there at present. The dairy industry would develop rapidly if grasses suitable to the soil and climate were planted. It was possible that the kauri timber industry was coming to an end, but he had been shown Crown bush in which he was told there was eight million feet, and he asked why was that not cut? Sooner or later fire would come along and ravage it. He had also seen very large areas of magnificent swamps, which should be drained. After his present visit, he would, from his seat in Parliament, be able to give an unqualified denial to the statement of the Minister for Railways that the North Auckland railway would never pay one-half per cent. He would take an opportunity to declare that the North Auckland railway would pay as well as any other railway