MR MASSEY'S TOUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2928, 27 April 1910, Page 12

MR MASSEY'S TOUR.

SOME OF HIS IMPRESSIONS

Mr W. F. Massey, M.P., Leader of the Opposition, -returned to Dunedin on the 19th after a rapid tour through Otago Central, and left for the north on the 21st mst., en route for Wellington, which tie expects to reach in about a fortnight's time. He stayed in Balelutha on Friday evening, and next day came back to Milton and went on to Lawrence, being accompanied! so far by Mr James Allen, M.P. He was then joined by Mr R. Scott, M.P., who was his companion for the remainder of the i iourney. Mr Massey .pxooeeded to RoxI burgh'on Saturday, and stayed there over 1 Sunday, and went on to Alexandra and Clyde'on Monday, returning to Dunedin; jby the Otago Central line. Mr Massey's ' mission was of a political nature, but he ' abstained from giving addresses anywhere. His reception was cordial, and he i expresses himself as satisfied with the result of his mission. Speaking of the Lawrence-Roxburgh railway, Mr Massey said he could express no opinion as to whether it was right or wrong to start the lime, but now that £70,000 or £BO,OOO had been expended on earthworks and so forth, it would be simply folly to leave the Tine in its present state. Something should be done to enable it to earn even a small return for the outlay which had been incurred. What had happened in connection with this piece, of railway was one of the worst instances of bungling and mismanagement he had ever seen, and was a monument to the incapacity of those who were responsible' for what had : taken place. He was disappointed with the appearance of Central Otago as compared with what it was on the occasion of his last visit. It had evidently suffered severely from the cycle of drv seasons which had been experienced, and in gome places there was hardly a. sign of vegetation left. The soil was good, and only wanted water. He thought a gre:at deal more should be done in the way of tree-planting, -with the ob- | ject not only of providing shelter, but of ; increasing the rainfall. He : believed it would pay to plant trees by the thousand, and the necessary encouragement should be given by the Government, as most of the land was the property of the Crowin. Trees grew particularly well, and if the country was to do any good, wholesale planting should be taken in hand. He noticed that in places the original grasses had practically died out, and he thought experiments should be made by surface-sowing- with danthonk or some of the grasses which had rjroved successful in parts of the North "island. There was a lot of good country, but it wanted water, trees, and grasses, suitable to the soil. Uoser settlement should be encouraged wherever possible, and better tenure provided than the ordinary pastoral lease, Which though right enough under certain conditions, did not make for the permanent improvements which were required He was greatly pleased with the appearance of the orchards about Roxburgh and ?KT r ■ft 9 vf' a ? d , much impressed with the stability of the eoil and climate for fruit-growing purposes.