COST CRITICISED

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 April 1939, Page 4

COST CRITICISED

BULLER LAND CLEARING. [PEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.] TEKAPO, April 17. An assertion that the recent demonstration of land clearing on the West Coast had cost the Government thousands of pounds, made by a speaker at the runholders’ meeting here to-day, drew a sharp retort from the Minister for Agriculture, Mr. Lee Martin.

Mr. A. J. Davey, vice-president of the South Canterbury Farmers’ Union, who criticised the use of machinery on land on the West Coast when better land was going out of production in Canterbury, said that the thousands of pounds being thus spent could be better used to bring Canterbury land into operation again. The feeling of the farmers all over the country, he said, was one of hopelessness and helplessness, and was leading them to ask why they should work so hard for such a small return.

“I regret very much the terms used by Mr. Davey concerning recent actions on the West Coast.” said the Minister. “There is no truth whatever in. the statement he made. That demonstration did not cost the Government a single penny. ■ The statement that thousands oi pounds were '■pent in bringing in land on the West; Coast has not a shred of truth in it. I am very sorry that that statement has been made here by a fellowmember of the Farmers’ Union.”