Mr Johnston And Lime

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 August 1947, Page 5

Mr Johnston And Lime

Sir,—ln pondering over yesterday’s meeting of the Farmers’ Federation I somehow do not feel satisfied that the verdict given was the voice of 500 farmers, but rather was it th£ verdict of the delegates swayed by the opinion of speakers who consider co-operatives a superior method to private enterprise and I think, too, that the “If” speech of Mr Wallace had quite a lot to do with the verdict. I thought I made it quite plain that my plan was to use all the money obtained from sales of lime at Cobden to develop the pakihi land at Westport. ’Mr Wallace did not believe my statement and he put forward this idea: “If” I was the owner of the Cobden lime quarry, I would earn more money than all the farmers combined would earn in a year, or “If” I owned the lime quarry I would soon become the richest man in the world. Or words to that effect. Would I be justified in doubting in turn, Mr Wallace’s sincerity and asking him what he hopes to gain? Just what is his motive if he doubts that mine is not a profit-making one? Mr Greenslade also doubted my statement, but I do understand his reason, because he is a paid servant of the Ross company. I would also like the farmers to know, before they spend their money that the trend of today is an economical lime works able to stand the opposition of lime sold round about 8s per ton, and I do contend it ought to be cheaper if farmers are to get the most out of their lands. Now that the question of the quality of the Cobden lime is/cleared up —and the comparison with Ross is not so wide as alleged I suggest another point. May be there are qualities in Cobden lime that are not m Ross, of which little is known at the present moment, and I intend_to investigate along these lines. I have been told by the farmer whom I consider the best farmer in this district that he has had better results from Cobden than any other lime. I know many co-operative concerns which are a liability to the shaicholders, simply because they cannot compete with private enterprise. The farmers are not to blame for this. I hope at an early date to visit individual branches of the Federated Farmers and so satisfy myself about their real views. Mr Martin gave me to understand that information about the change in lime freights would be given at the meeting by a member of the Agricultural Department, and I also intend to investigate that matter as it possibly could have effected the verdict given against my proposals. I am etc., P G. L. JOHNSTON. . Greymouth, August 30.