LAND SCHEME.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 59, 10 March 1936, Page 7

LAND SCHEME.

— i "FANTASTIC STORY," Lord Nuffield Denies Big Loan Report. NEW ZEALAND SETTLEMENT. United Press Association. —Copyright. (Received 11 a.m.) SYDNEY, this day. Lord Nuffield, who arrived by the Monowai, denied that there "was any truth in the "fantastic story" broadcast during the voyage of the Monowai that he was prepared to advance £-'1,000,000 toward a land settlement scheme in Australia or New Zealand. "NOT FANTASTIC." SIR ALFRED RANSOM SPEAKS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. Interviewed by telephone at his home at Dannevirke, Sir Alfred Ransom said: "It is no vise Lord Nuffield saying that the land settlement proposal is a 'fantastic story.'" Sir Alfred said LordNuffield did not mention £1,000,000, but that was the figure mentioned by Sir Thomas Wilford when he visited New Zealand prior to Lord Nuffield's visit. "Sir Thomas said £1,000,000 was the figure Lord Nuffield had said he was prepared to consider," said Sir Alfred. "Lord. Nuffield never mentioned any amount to me, but Sir Thomas did. ECe said it was the result of a conversation lie had with Lord Nuffield * 11 England, and that was confirmed by Mr. C. J. B. Norwood, of Wellington." When Lord Nuffield was in New Zealand he was taken on a visit of inspection of land settlement schemes in the North Island by the Government. "When I discussed the matter with him it was in his mind to settle English people," added Sir Alfred. "I suggested settlement of New Zealanders, but he said that was not acceptable because he had made his money in England. "I then suggested that settlement should be carried out on a fifty-fifty basis, and lie said he would consider it. If it was a 'fantastic story,' why should I have wasted my time in showing him the development lands in the North Island when he was not interested in them ? Perhaps I, was foolish in mentioning it, but I kept my mwuth shut for twelve months." "I am completely in the dark about the reported offer of Lord Nuffield to invest £1,000,000 in land settlement in New Zealand," said the Minister of Lands, the Hon. F. Langstone, yesterday. "I know nothing about it. Whatever conversations took place between Lord Nuffield and the former Minister of Lands, Sir Alfred Ransom, were evidently in strict confidence and known only to themselves. "From the statement made by Sir Alfred at Dannevirke on Saturday it appears to me," continued Mr. Lang- ' stone, "that no direct offer was made by Lord Nuffield and probably Sir Alfred Ransom suggested that a iand settlement scheme on the basis of one New Zealand settler to one British settler would be affirmed by his Government."