M. J. GALVTN.]

I.—2A

97

309. Do you know anything about the lease of the big area at Turukuri ?—Only generally. 310. Is there anything in the lease to the effect that the lessee is not permitted to plough the land ? • —I can only say that I have heard it. 311. Have you any idea what the object of that would be ? —I suppose they consider that the natural tussock is of more value than the result they would get from ploughing. 312. Do you consider that Mr. Martin would have practically the whole of his time taken up on his farm, and would therefore not have time available to look into a vast area ? —He could not do it as I have—could not have camped out for three or four days at a time. I have made the study of that area a hobby, in view of the propaganda about the Taupo land, and have taken every possible chance of learning what I could about it. 313. Assuming that the difficulties of farmers in other parts of New Zealand are very great, do you think that the difficulties of making ends meet on the Rotorua-Taupo area would be greater than in other parts of the Dominion ? —Absolutely. I would rather go on excessively high-priced land than on poorer land, because you can adjust the excessive price, and you cannot adjust excessive inferiority. 314. Mr. Vaile.] What is the elevation of Waiouru ?—About 2,660 ft. 315. What is the level of Rotorua ? —About 985 ft. 316. And of Taupo ? —lt is 1,211 ft. 317. I suggest that Waiouru has a very different climate, at a height of nearly 3,000 ft.? —Well, you know that another important point is the question of cattle-sickness at a high altitude. I think the State Forest officers could tell you a good deal more than I can. One point you must be sure of is that this high country is not " sick " as well as devoid of water.

Wednesday, 2nd Octobeb, 1929. Mr. Vaile : May I ask for a copy of all the evidence ? The Chairman : It is going to be printed. Mr. Vaile : lam asking a transcript to enable me to prepare my final address. May I have a typed copy of the evidence ? The Chairman: Ido not think that there is a typed copy available. I understand, and I believe it is the position, that no one except members of the Committee is entitled to a copy of the evidence. If it is printed, however, as I hope it will be, you will be able to procure it afterwards. No doubt you have sufficient notes of your own evidence to enable you to prepare your address. Mr. Vaile: I thought I might be allowed a copy. The Chairman: I would like to meet you if I could. Mr. Massey : I think it is only fair that Mr. Yaile should get a copy of the evidence. The Chairman : We would require to make application to Mr. Speaker. Mr. Massey : We could do that. The Chairman : I have no objection to Mr. Vaile getting a copy of the evidence, but I cannot authorize it. Mr. Massey : The Committee could make a recommendation in the matter. The Chairman : If that is done it means that there will be a precedent for future cases. We can deal with the matter after this morning's evidence has been taken. Norman James Dolamore examined. (No. 13.) 1. The Chairman.] You are Forest Assistant in the State Forest Service at Rotorua, and you are here representing the State Forest Department ?—I presume so. 2. You have come here on the instructions of the Head Office ? —Yes. 3. You are here to tell us about timber particularly ? —Yes. 4. You may have some knowledge of land also, but timber is your main theme ?—Yes. 5. Have you had much experience with timber in the area known as Rotorua-Taupo area ? —Yes. I was stationed at Ohakune for seven years, and was then transferred to Rotorua, the headquarters for the region, and I have been there for eighteen months. 6. Have you some information you would like to place before the Committee respecting the timber in these areas and other matters ?—I was called on very short notice, and therefore have not been able to prepare a written statement, but I am prepared to submit to any questions relating to the timber in the district and the plantation areas. 7. Would you prefer that we examine you —by way of questions ?—I would prefer that course, if it is in order. When stationed for so long at the Main Trunk district, I worked through the western Taupo district and the various areas of the Main Trunk line. That was over a period of between seven and eight years. Since then I have been stationed at Rotorua, and have been working through the plantation areas and the forest areas in Taupo and the back-country districts. 8. Can you give the Committee any approximate idea of the area of timber in plantations, say, within twenty miles radius of either side of the proposed Rotorua-Taupo Railway ? —I have exact figures here. 9. Will you give us them in evidence ? —I indicate on the map the situation of the main Kaingaroa plantation. There is on the map a line showing the watershed between the Rangitaiki Valley and what is practically the Waikato. That covers an area of 217,340 acres, of whjch 153,000 acres have been planted to date. The area of the Whakarewarewa is a total of 10,000 acres.

13 —I. 2A.