TAUPO RAILWAY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 254, 25 September 1929, Page 11

TAUPO RAILWAY.

EVIDENCE TAKEN YESTERDAY

Per Press Association. AVELLINGTON, Sept. 24. At the Taupo railway inquiry Mr E. E. Vaile said tliat the Public AVorks Department had made tho conditions too onerous for him to subdivide his land. He contended that motor transport would be much dearer than rail and also that it was an economic loss to the country as much of the money went abroad. There was less .justification for the Rotorua line when it was built than for tho Taupo line which would open up 2,000,000 acres. Replying to Mr Lye, Mr Vaile said that he had no complaint to make about political bias on the part of the committee.

F. G. Dalziell, chairman of the Totara Timber Co, referred to the company’s activities in advancing settlement. If Mr Vaile had not for many yeairs been fighting the company, there would have been a great deal of settlement on the area, but lie had chosen to oppose the company’s efforts. In 1912 a Parliamentary Committee had recommended the extension bf the company’s line to Taupo, but nothing had been done. Such an extension would sufficiently serve the national interests. In 1925 a- commission had expressed the opinion that the present line was sufficient. The inquiry was adjourned until tomorrow.