IF PROPERLY HANDLED

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 673, 27 May 1929, Page 10

IF PROPERLY HANDLED

FUTURE FOR ROTORUATAUPO

ABANDONED RAILWAY Properly handled, there are wonderful possibilities for the pumice land of Rotorua-Taupo. MR. A. HARRIS, M.P., is definite in . this view after a two days’ tour jof tile district. With Mr. Harris in j the party, which was made up hv | Auckland members of Parliament and I representatives of the executive committee of the Labour Party, were Messrs. M. J. Savage, M.P., W. E. Parry, M.P., W. J. Jordan, M.P.. W. L. Martin, M.P., T. Bloodworth, and J. S. Montgomerie. The object of the tour was to investigate the settlement possibilities of the area. The best means of transport, road or rail, for the area, was to be judged by the party. Particular interest was shown in the much-discussed and abandoned railway project. On this question, Mr. Parry explained today that the observations made would be fully discussed by the Labour representatives. At the present time no joint opinion had been made. Mr. Savage mentioned that several other Labour members had inspected the pumice country earlier. It had been felt that no one was in a proper position to comment on the state of the land until investigation had been made. This view was supported by i Mr. Parry. AT STATE FORESTS j Soldiers’ settlements, State forests \ at Whakarewarewa and Waiotapu, and land from Claudelands to Rotorua, and south into the Taupo country, were seen by the party. The soldier settlers at Reporoa appeared to be fairly well satisfied, Mr. Harris said, although they were seeking revaluation of their holdings. Mr. Harris remarked that, from what he saw of the route of the abandoned railway, he could see no reason for the stopping of the project. , He was anxious to hear the other side : of the case before associating himself with the issue on the decision of the Government. The accomplishments of the stalls in the State forests won praise from ! Mr. Parry. He was of the opinion that the value of the work had .tot been broadcast sufficiently to let New Zealand know what an asset existed I in the plantations. Mr. Parry said that there was no doubt that the State had achieved i success in the handling of the forests, r The knowledge gained from ihe control of the plantations would be of • inestimable value in years to come, when there would certainly be added ■ importance in forest work.