WORK ON RAILWAY

Southland Times, Issue 21198, 26 September 1930, Page 8

WORK ON RAILWAY

BOTOEUA-TAUPO LINE COMMITTEE’S REPORT UPON PETITION NO RECOMMENDATION MADE (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, September .25. The A to L Public Petitions Committee, reporting in the House of Representatives this afternoon on the petition praying for the immediate resumption of work on the Rotorua-Taupo railway line, stated that it had no recommendation to make as the question of policy was involved. Mr H. S. S. Kyle (R., Riccarton) expressed the opinion that it had not been possible for the committee to give the same consideration to this subject as had been given by the committee of last session. He believed that it was possible to open up large areas of land in the thermal region to the economic advantage of the Dominion. Even Division of Opinions. Mr A. W. Hall (R., Hauraki) said that there had been a very even division -of opinions among the members of the committee which had considered this petition. Quite a large section believed that the possibilities of this line should be considered by the committee recently appointed to investigate all railway lines under construction. He moved as an amendment that the report be referred back to the committee for further consideration.

Mr C. A. Wilkinson (1., Egmont) said he hoped that the Government would stand by its decision not to go on with the line. He did not think that the annual loss to the country that it would involve, could be justified. The area would be adequately served by a good road. Mr P. Fraser (L., Wellington Central) asked that the House should be given the benefit of a full report on possibilities of the land in this area. The House should be in a position to judge what justification there was for an expensive railway or for an expensive road. He supported the view that the line should be considered by the Railway Construction Committee. The Hon. Sir Apirana Ngata said that it was possible to be enthusiastic about the settlement of pumice land and at the same time still be restrained concerning the construction of the railway line. The difficulty relating to settlement in the area had been the existence of bush sickness and until that problem had been overcome, work could not be pushed ahead. The Government was . experimenting with the country and that stage had not yet been passed. For many years afforestation companies had been,operating in the area and a lot of land was already under trees. The Minister agreed that the question of development of land should be fully investigated. Mr Jones’s Complaint. Mr D. Jones (R., Mid-Canterbury) complained that the House had not been given the promised opportunity to discuss the report of the committee which considered the question last session. The acting-Prime Minister (the Hon. E. A. Ransom) said that a promise had been given that the House would have an opportunity to consider the report early in the session, but the business before the House then consisted of measures to be disposed of so as to enable Mr Forbes to leave for the Imperial Conference. Since the Prime Minister’s departure the Government had shown members every consideration. He had been surprised that no member had considered the report of last year’s committee of sufficient importance to raise the question until the present juncture. Mr Ransom contended that the railway was not essential to the development of the country. He had not lost his confidence on the development of the pumice belt. Indeed, he believed that the future possibility of New Zealand to a large extent depended upon its development. The settlement of those portions of the country offered the best solution of the unemployment problem that could be seen. He considered further that the time was not far distant when much of the country regarded to-day as sheep and cattle sick should be brought into production. The Government was justified in the experiments it was conducting. Mr F. Lye (U., Waikato) said that the report of the committee last year had recommended that the line should not be proceeded with. This recommendation had been reached after exhaustive investigation. It had further been recommended that 10.000 acres of the best land in this area should be settled as an experiment. Mr J. A. Nash (R., Palmerston): How much has been settled? Mr Lye: The Government has a scheme of settlement under way. As the honourable member knows, it is impossible to settle 10,000 acres in one year. Construction Not Justifiable. Continuing. Mr Lye said that as a practical farmer he did not think that the results of even twenty years hence would justify the building of the railway. It was unlikely that it would be possible to get adequate water supplies in many large areas in the Taupo district. Mr A. M. Samuel (R., Ohinemuri) said that the report of the committee of last session had been brought down on the casting vote of the chairman and he understood that this year’s recommendation had been decided upon also on the casting vote of the chairman. He knew from his own personal observation that there were vast areas of land in the district that were capable of successful and highly profitable development. He was going to vote for the amendment because, while not wishing at the moment to state whether the railway or road should be utilized as a means of development, he was of the opinion that the House should be given an opportunity for full discussion of the report of last year’s select committee. Mr C. H. Clinkard (U., Rotorua) said that many of the members who had advocated development of the district had been taken there in the flush of the season. If the land were as attractive throughout, the year there would be no need for encouragement to bring about settlement. He believed that any of the country suitable for development could be served satisfactorily by a good road and he certainly did not agree that the cost of the railway would be justified. After a number of other members had spoken, Mr J. A. Macpherson (U.. Oatnaru), replying, said that the question before the committee had been whether it was advisable now to go on ' with the railway or not. There was not the slightest doubt that if at some future date it became apparent that the construction of the railway was warranted, whatever Government was in power would then go on with the scheme. It certainly was not warranted at the present time. He did not see that any good purpose could be gained by referring the report back to the committee. Mr Hall’s amendment was rejected by 34 votes to 33. DIVISION LIST. For (33). Against (34). A. E. Ansell H. Atmore H. T. Armstrong W. E. Barnard T. D. Burnett W. A. Bodkin . C. H. Chapman W. J. Broadfoot H. G. Dickie C. J. Carr W. Endean C. H. Clinkard W-. H. Field J. G. Cobbe P. Fraser P. A. de la Perrelle A. W. Hall J. B. Donald T. Henare R. W. Hawke H. Holland E. P. Healy H. E. Holland J. T. Ho gan E. J. Howard F. Langstons < W. J. Jordan F. Lye

H. S. S. Kyle W. D. Lysnar J. Linklater T. W. McDonald R. McKeen D. McDougall W. L. Martin J. A. Macpherson C. E. Macmillan T. Makitanara J. N. Massey 11. G. R. Mason J. A. Nash G. C. Munns W. Nash. J. W. Munro W. E. Parry A. J. Murdoch A. M. Samuel Sir A. Ngata M. J. Savage J. O’Brien R. Semple W. J. Polson IV. D. Stewart E. A. Ransom D. G. Sullivan H. M. Ruehworth G. R. Sykes S. G. Smith F. Waite A. J. Stallworthy K. S. Williams W. B. Taverner R. A. Wright W. A. Veitch J. A. Young V. Ward C. A. Wilkinson . GISBORNE-NAPIER LINE OPPOSITION TO SUGGESTED CLOSING DOWN. Gisborne, September 25. A largely-attended conference of local body representatives and others to-day resolved strongly to. oppose any suggestion of closing down the construction of the Gis-borne-Napier railway. A deputation of five was appointed to collect all available evidence and proceed to Wellington to lay the same before the select committee of Parliament appointed to inquire into lines under construction.