TAUPO RAILWAY

Hokitika Guardian, 27 September 1929, Page 3

TAUPO RAILWAY

MR VALUE'S PETITION. v ßy Telegraph—Per .Press Association.). WELLINGTON,. Sept. 26. The ■M. to Z. Committee of the House heard further evidence to-day in regard to the petition of Mr Vaiie or the resumption of the Taupo line. E. G. Dalziell ventured to say that ir he and Vaiie went to the Prime Minister it would he possible to arrive at a solution of the ■ difficulty, and he asked the Committee to assist them in hat connection. Replying to Mr Vaiie, he. said he lid not consider fifteen million an excessive amount to cover the cost of ileveloping the area. Eustace Lane,' farmer, Wairoa, Hawke’s Bay, said that quite a portion of the present holding was pumice land. Pumice land, if properly fertilised, was the best in the world. He had a good knowledge of the land the proposed railway would traverse, and ne thought it would carry a big population when it was developed. It would be- necessary for settlers. to obtain fertiliser at cheap cost,'arid'the oniy way to do that was' to put, the railway through. To Mr Jenkins: He had no faith in the carriage of stock by motor lorries. Witness could not give the cost of developing the land, but said probably between five and ,ten thousand pounds ,;n acre. He did not favour small areas of fifty acres. A NEW ARGUMENT. WELLINGTON, Sept. 26. At the. Taupo railway inquiry, Mr Lane, continuing his evidence, contended that with railway access, Taupo would constitute cue finest defence centre in New Zealand. ' - In reply to Mr Makitanara, he said that there was a danger to New Zealand at present imminent, although the country was at peace to-day. Mr Makitanara: Do you suggest that a foreign army is going to fight us in New Zealand? Mr Lane: I do. Mr Kyle asked the witness why he was suggesting a defence scheme. ■ He hoped that it was not to carry favour with the Chairman . (Colonel McDonald). Witness replied that lie had accompanied Lord Roberts into Pretoria as the Melbourne Herald correspondent, and knew something of action and tactics. The Committee adjourned till Tuesday.