ABANDONED RAILWAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20365, 20 September 1929, Page 16

ABANDONED RAILWAY.

CLAIM FOR CONSTRUCTION.

DEVELOPING PUMICE LAND.

FULL INQUIRY WELCOMED.

MANY ADVANTAGES OF LINE

[by telegraph.—special reporter.] WELLINGTON. Thursday.

"Wo court the fullest inquiry into this district and \vo want you to see it," said Mr. E. E. Vaile, of Wniotapu, in giving evidence before tho M to Z Public Petitions Committee of tho House of Representatives to-day in support of a petition asking that work should bo recommenced on the Rotorua-Taupo railway, recently vetoed by the Government. "We object to men from totally dissimilar country condemning tho pumice land," added Mr. Vai'o. "It is a working man's country. We havo everything to gain and nothing to lose from tho fullest investigations into its possibilities." Mr. Vaile gave details of the forest areas between Rotorua and Taupo. His experience was that the timber was very rapid in growth and was of good quality. ,< The pumico was so freo that tho roots could travel anywhere. Forestry and Revenue. As a farmer, Mr. Vailo said he was naturally disappointed to see so much land put under trees, but a forestry area, properly looked after, would support nearly as many people as farming would, f bo that there would be no loss to the railway on that account. There wa3 the further consideration that if tho forestry land were later resumed for farming the poil would be improved in consequence. Regarding his own farming operations Mr. Vaile said he bad purchased his holding in 1907. He could not claim to have made a fortune, but he had carried out a great deal of experimental work, and he thought he had gained valuable knowledge. Ho had originally 15,000 acres, but now owned only 10,000 acres. The land could be quickly brought in. It '' ,would be a mistake, however, to endeayour to settle it in large areas. Figures were quoted by Mr. Vaile to support his contention that the pumice land wa3 the most easily and most cheaply worked country in New Zealand. Jle had brought tho roughest pumice land into turnips at a cost of £3 lis 3d an acre. Instancing the worth of the Reporoa district for dairying, Mr. Vaile quoted the average butter-fat production for various herds, these official returns varying from ./ 233!b. to 2431b. a cow. " Our Air is Like Champagne." Mr. Vaile said Reporoa was new and nntried country and most of the cattle were not of the highest order. Personally he had several times topped the Westfield market for fat cattle. Tho 1 climate in the pumice country was excellent. "Our air is like champagne and is a good deal cheaper," said Mr. Vailo. amid laughter, "it had been said the pumice area would be very suitable for the location of a sanatorium. The tourist possibilities of the Taupo district were also stressed by Mr. Vaile. A tourist route from Rotorua . through IWaiotapu, Wairakei and Taupo and thence to the Wanganui River would be unI rivalled in the world. The railway would enable tourists to make that journey easily and comfortably. The railway had many advantages over the motor, particularly because oveisea travellers, usually hal a large amount of luggage not easily carried by motor, while tne train journey also had obvious all-weather advantages. It had also to be remembered that a railway largely created its own traffic, the outstanding example being the Main Trunk line, along which prosperous settlements had grown where previously land could be bought for half a crown an aero. In Mr. Voile's opinion a line to the west of Lake Titupo would be equally as successful as the Alain Trunk line. To the west of the lake this rail way might in Borß9 respects bo built without cost, said Mr. Vaile, who considered there was no reason why an assessment should not / he made on the land and timber for tho purpose. Soem years ago he had secured the consent of every white settles anil most of the native settlers to that course Bitumen Road Condemned. Mr. Vaile submitted that a bitumen road would be worthless and in many razz spects worse than useless. There would bo great difficulty in droving stock be cause the road would be a tourist ono, and fast-moving car* would be constantly travelling along it. Mr. Vaile said he had been well informed that the capital cost of a 12ft. bitumen road such as that pro-

posed would be as much as a railway. Mr. Vaile understood the Public "Works Department had prepared fresh estimates for the road, and he submitted that the committee could not come to a

proper decision until those estimates, showing the width of the road and the ' load to be allowed, had beon produced. Another road like that between Mamaku and Rotorua, limiting loads to tons, ■would be useless. The chairman, Mr. T. W. McDonald, ■aid he would ask the Minister of Public

"Works, Hon. E. A. Ransom, whether de

tails of tho estimates and specifications in connection with the proposed bitumen road could be made available.

The committee will moot again next Tuesday.