ABANDONED RAILWAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20364, 19 September 1929, Page 14

ABANDONED RAILWAY.

CASE, FOR CONSTRUCTION.

SETTLING PUMICE LANDS.

VALUABLE FARMING AREAS.

CHEAP FREIGHT ESSENTIAL.

[By / TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL IIEPOnTEn.] WELLINGTON, Wednesday.

Events trended toward a minor crisis when evidenco on tho petition seeking the recommencement of work on tho RotoruaTanpo railway was being heard by the M to Z Petitions Committee of the House of Representatives to-day. Objection was taken by tho chairman, Mr. T. W. McDonald, to the cross-examining methods of Mr. E. E. Vaile, tho chief petitioner, but at the protest of Mr. A. M. Samuel and other members of the committee the chairman allowed Mr, Vaile to proceed on his own lines.

Mr. F. Carr Rollett, agricultural editor of tho Auckland Weekly News, continued his evidence to-day. A bird's-eye .view of tiio Rotorua-Taupo country was given by Mr. Rollett, who described with the aid of a map tho main features of the area the railway would open up. "I look: upon tho Taupo country as a gift, to the, nation," said Mr. Rollett. "It in tho power of tho Government to create wonderful possibilities there, and to develop tho country into a great province."

Forests or Farms.

'Answering the chairman, Mr. Rollett said there were large areas locked up for forestry purposes, particularly on the eastern side. A great portion of that land, Mr. Rollett contended, was very suitable for farming in small lots, and ho was astonished that such land had been allowed to be planted in trees. Mr. Rollett did not agTee with the chairman's suggestion that the line should be regarded as the Rotorua-Reporoa railway. The authorisation might go only ( as far' as Reporoa, but it was always understood the line would eventually go ' to Taupo and it had been regarded in that' light by two Royal Commissions. The Hon. E. A. Ransom. Minister of Public Works, a member of the committee, asked whether a good road would not open up tho land for settlement as well as/ a railway. ' Mr. Rollett agreed (hat good roads would open up the area for settlement, , but not as well a3 by a railway. Ho cited the difference in transport costs, saying that lambs or sheep cost Is 6d a head if carried 40 or 50 miles by motorlorry, whereas tho railway charge would be only 7d for 100 miles. , . f Releasing Land lor Farming. Answering Mr. 11. S. S. Kyle, Mr. Rollett said that for dealing with settlement on a largo scale he knew of no area better suited than tho Taupo country. He regretted that largo areas of arable -land had been set aside for afforestation, but it was not too lato to save tho situation, na in some instances all that was necessary was a stroke of the pen. - Replying to Mr. J. N. Massey, Mr. Rollett said it would cost froTti £4 10s to '£6 10s an acre, exclusivo of buildings and fencing, 'to bring the country into good pasture. It was generally reckoned that tha- pumice country would carry well a co'foto three acres. Worked up to a good condition tho pumice country, on the only real test of butter-fat production • pec acre, would compare favourably with most other dairying districts. It would certainly not fail by comparison with . the Waikato butter-fat production. - The Stato would eventually haVe £20,000,000 worth of timber locked up .:L in tho area the railway would open and ..'Mr. Rollett contended it was inevitable that a lino must bo put through. It seemed remarkable to him that (here . should be any hesitancy about building , the railway in' view of the State's largo interests in tho area. Questions by Mr. F. Lye.

Questioned by Mr. F. Lye, Mr. Rollett said ho had been agricultural editor of tho Auckland Weekly News for 25 years, which ha ■ considered to be "« pretty *good test" of his knowledge of agriculture. Ho had nob actually farmed the pumice land, although ho had farmed gum land. However, he had tho experience of hundreds of settlers in tho pumice country and he had followed the developments there very closely. Mr. Lye: Are you the holder of any land in, the area to be served by tho railway 1 Mr.' Rollett: To be perfectly frank I have an area of six acres a little out of Itotorua. (Laughter.) Mr." Lye: It is only fair that I should say it has been suggested to mo that some relatives of yours hold a largo area in proximity to tho proposed line. i Mr. Rollett: It is correct that an area of about 6500 acrc3 is owned by a nephew of mine. ;* Mr. Lye: Why are you interested in adyocating the development, of tho pumice land ? >-"Mr.' A. M. Samuel: What a stupid question. Ho has already told us. The Making of a New Province. Rollett said the Auckland Weekly News had always been interested in settlement and it was therefore essential that he should know something about the pumice country through which ho had travelled ; on innumerable occasions. ."Jt would bo tho making of a new province," said Mr. Rollett, in replying tp Mr. Samuel. Apart from the general reluctance of financial institutions to advance money on good or bad lands there . had been the additional disadvantage -against the Taupo land that it was iso'lated and no scientific attempt had been made to work much of it by means of fertiliser. l~"L am impressed with the knowledge !you have gathered on this question," .said Mr. R. Seniple, who asked whether, in view of the amount of Crown land in the area, Mr. Rollett thought it better that the Government should settle such land instead of buying higher-priced land Elsewhere. "I am absolutely convinced of that," replied Mr. Rollett. Chairman's Methods Challenged. There was a passage-at-arms when Mr. Ynilf) was examining Mr. Rollett as to .ithethcr tho proprietors of the New Zealand Hehald and Auckland Weekly Jwevvs liurj any interest in the Taupo country. Mr. Rollett said he had authority for Raying that none of the gentlemen mentioned owned an acre of land m the area. The chairman said Mr. Voile must confine 1 limself to questions raised in the examination. He must not ask foreign questions. Mr. Vaile; Excuse me, this is my wit'l- .It OSS. Mr. Samuel, Mr. Semple and Mr. Kyle challenged the chairman's methods. "Mr. ~ V jVaikr is the petitioner,'* said Mr. Samuel. "These are his witnesses and lie is entitled to ask any question in support of his petition." Tlie Chairman: In cross-examining Mr. Vailo must not introduce foreign matter. Wo will never get through in two or iff three weeks if we go on like this

(iv, : '"This ( is not a court cf justice," said Mr. Semplc, who cm lea von red to get a ruling from tlifc chairman with a view lo moving that the ruling be disagreed with, ( I.ut Mr. McDonald said he would not rule. E".•"•Mr. .Vailo has partly asked his question . #nd I will let it go this tixno,'i lie added.

Mr. W. A. Parfiham, farm manager, of Rc'poroa, said he had broken in 1250 acres of pumico land in the last five years at an average cost of about £5 an acre. He knew of no other dairying land that •would carry a cow .is cheaply. He estimated there were about 500,000 acres suitable for cutting up into small farms. The climato was good except for odd frosts in tho summer. There was an annual rainfall of between 40in. and 50in. of rain, and there was freedom from snow.

Manure at present cost £1 a ton to transport from Rotorua to Reporoa, wliilo the charge was £1 10s for other classes of freight, said tho witness. Owing to the prospective restriction of loads from two tons to a ton and a-half an increase in charges was imminent. Mr. Parnliam also drew attention to the effect on stock through being drivon long distances to tho saleyards. Answering Mr. Scmple, Mr. Parnham said he had recently had farming experience in Canterbury, and at first he had had his doubts as to the valuo of the pumice country. However, his doubts had been dispelled a3 a result of his five years' experience on the pumico land, which was very easily worked. He did not anticipate thero would bo need for irrigation in the area between Waiotapu and the Waikato River, which was beautifully watered. Scientific Side of Agriculture.

Some amusement was caused when Mr. Semplo suggested to tho wituess that men might bo placed on tho land, and that night study circles might bo formed for considering the scientific side of agriculture.

"That might bo all right," said Mr. Parnham dubiously, "but oractico is better. You do not get an Oxford man to do eigiit hours work." (Laughter.) Mr. Kyle: He has come out of a hard school.

"I think a railway will have to come," said Mr. Parnham, who gave it as his opinion that roads would not sufficiently develop tho area. Evidence was also given by Mr. W. G. Butcher, - farm manager, of Strathmore, Reporoa, who said ho came to tho pumice country 35 years ago, being the first settler in the area. Ho was well acquainted with tho pumico area as far south as Tokaanu and he estimated threequarters of tho area was ploughable. Tho land could bo brought to fair pasture at a cost of about £5 an acre. Ho had nover seen a real drought during the whole of his experience in the pumice area.

Prejudice and Lack of Access.

Answering Mr. Semplc, the witness thought a suitable area for a start would be 150 to 200 acres. After the land had been well cultivated it might bo possible for a man to do well on 50 acres. Ho was quite certain tho country was the easiest to break in in New Zealand and tho best to scttlo. The main thing in the setllerrmnt of tho pumico country was cheap manure, and for that reason the railway was most desirable as tho freight from Auckland would be reduced considerably. Mr. Lye: What are tha main factors that have kept back tho development of Iho pumice land? Mr. Butchor: Prejudice and of access.

At Mr. Samuel's request it was ascertained that the rail freight from Rotorua to Reporoa would bo 7s 4d a ton, against the road chargo of £1 and 30s. Answering the chairman, Mr. Butcher expressed tho viow that although tho railway might not pay from the start it shortly would do so as settlement was encouraged.

The hearing of evidence will be con tinned to-morrow.

It was intimated to-day that Mr. Vaile would be the last witness in support of tho petition.