Cobden Lime Project

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 August 1947, Page 2

Cobden Lime Project

Sir, —As an average citizen, being interested in anything that is for the welfare and general progress of the town, I have followed with interest the various letters for and against the Cobden lime project. Summing up, it seems to me that the Ross Lime Company is adopting a dog-in-the-manger attitude about the whole matter. They have a small lime works and seem to be afraid of anyone else starting up for fear they will be put out of business. What other reason could they have? What sort of attitude is this for any pro-gressive-minded men to adopt? Surely there is enough demand for lime to keep a dozen Ross works going. I know that whenever I have to purchase a bag of lime for my garden I invariably have to wait—recently it was five weeks before I could get de-livery-—and sometimes I have to go without. Does Mr Mulcare express the attitude of every farmer when he opposes the Cobden lime scheme? It would be interesting to hear their views. I notice that when one farmer, Mr Langridge, voiced his opinion in favour of the proposed works, he was immediately attacked by Mr Mulcare. One cannot help but admire Mr Johngtpn for his courage and initiative in wanting to set up this new industry. He is taking all the risk and should be given every encouragement and support by a district that will benefit very materially from his efforts and enterprise. —Yours, etc.,. CITIZEN. Greymouth, August 12.

Sir,—Mr Mulcare. stated in last evening’s paper that my name had not appeared in the Ross Lime Company’s ledger since as far back as 1939; also that I may have been the farmer in question who had stated he had paid 29s per ton for Ross lime, and that I had not stated the facts. Evidently the Ross company is behind with its bookkeeping. I wish to inform Mr Mulcare that my last purchase of lime from Ross was as recent as March, 1946, and it cdst

me 29s per ton net, and that the Westland Transport Co. brought the lime from Greymouth to my farm at an additional, cost of 15s- per ton. I also wish to inform Mr Mulcare that I have not made any hurried decision to lime my land, as I have top-dressed my farm regularly for years with lime, obtained from Canterbury as well as from Ross. —Yours, etc., H. LANGRIDGE. Barrytown, August 13.