LAND FOR SOLDIERS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 28 February 1928, Page 5

LAND FOR SOLDIERS.

MR. RANSOM’S OFFER

REPLY TO THE MINISTER

|BV TKI.KOKAVH'-PKESS A.HSOJIAIION. DANNEVIRKE, heb. 27

Replying to the cfialienge jfesueti by the Hon. A. D. McLeod at le Awamutu last ween to pabash the price at which lie offered, his -property to tne Government for .soldier settlement, also the Government valuation at the time the offer was made, Mr E. A- Ransom, M.P., writes to the “Damievnke News” stating that Mr McLeod was at perfect liberty to publish every detail of the offer made by him to cell the land to the Government for soldi.-w settlement. The land was . offered about 1920 and from memory he believed the price was (about £4O per acre. The land was situated at Ruaroa, consisting of 655 acres of wel -improved land. He subsequently Isold 254 acres at £52 10s per acre, the purchaser hieing well satisfied with his bargain. Tne ba la no? of 401 acres he still held. Concluding, Mr Ransom says: “It is characteristic of Mr McLeod to make personal attacks on lii s fellow-members. He 'has more than once discussed my private affaire on the floor of the House, when not able to answer my argument, but it is not usual for him to got so far out of reach when making these ner.sonnl attacks. If there was anything wrong with the offer I made ‘ o 'the Crown to sell the land, then whv has the Minister waited five years to make his challenge. Evidently what I told mv audience at Whangarei has annoyed the Minister, and I have got a “bite.” but why this broadcasted attack through the the Press by innuendo? I do not fear the facts; they cannot- "hurt me, but the insinuation is there. 1 have refrained from making any personal attacks upon the Minister of Lands in respect to recent purchases for settlement, but now that he bi'S taken the .doves off. I am ouit-e ready for the fight, hut I hope I shall not he guilty of hitting below the belt.”