TAUPO RAILWAY SCHEME.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3357, 25 October 1911, Page 5

TAUPO RAILWAY SCHEME.

PROPOSALS TOO VAGUE. FURTHER INQUIRY PROPOSED. THE HOUSE PROVES HOSTILE. i.(SPECIAL TO TIUEB.J WELLINGTON, Oct. 24. An adverse report was presented this afternoon by the special Parliamentary Committee on the proposal of the Taupo Totara Timber Company to extend' its private tramway to Lake Taupo, and to acquire 200,000 acres of Native lands. The report was submitted to the House of Representatives early in the afternoon, and a lengthy debate followed on a motion to table the_ report and an amendment that the petition- should not be entertained. The proposition was discussed until the adjournment, and it is unlikely that it will come before the House again this session. The following is the extent of the Committee’s report: The Taupo- Totara Timber Co. Committee, to whom was referred the petition of the Taupo Totara Timber Coy., Ltd., and A. S, Graham and 35 others, has been carefully considered, and tfie same has arrived at a conclusion that in view of the ( important issues involved in the petition 'of the Taupo Totara Timber Coy., and more especially having regard to the vagueness of the proposals contained in the said petition, insofar as they effect the future disposal and settlement of the 200,000 acres of land, which the said Company desires to acquire from the Natives, and the Committee is of opinion that the whole question should be held over for the" consideration of Parliament next session. The Committee is further of opinion- that in the meantime full inquiry should he made by the Government as to the -best means of connecting Lake Taupo by rail with the existing railway system, so as to facilitate the early settlement of the large areas of Crown and Native lands in the Taupo district. Mr Forbes said lie thought the Company should be at once informed it had no chance of getting a monopoly oyer a large area of Native land or a private railway.

Mr Isit-t moved that the prayer of the petitioners be not entertained, as he could see no use in stringing the Company on. Mr Myers said the Committee was of opinion that not sufficient reason had been adduced for the granting of the prayer of the petition. In answer to Mr Fraser. Sir J. G. Ward said the Government did not favor private railways. Mr Mac-Donakl contended it would pay the Government to give away every; acre of land in the Taupo district to keep down the rabbit pest. Mr Massey was opposed to the issue of Orders-in-Council in regard to the disposal of Crown lands. He did. not believe such orders were- in compliance with the spirit of the Land Act or the Native Land Act. Regarding branch lines he thought if the Government would not make them the settlers should be allowed to construct them on the understanding that there should be no monopoly and the Government could resume the line at a fair price. Sir J. Ward said he was dead against private or district railways being established in this country. It did not matter what the recommendation of the committee was, nothing would be done in the matter without the authority of Parliament. Government would not allow any large areas of land • to be taken up without proper conditions for settlement purposes: ' The question w•astalked out.