MR MASSEY'S LAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16568, 4 June 1914, Page 2

MR MASSEY'S LAND.

REPLY TO MR RUSSELL. [FeOM Otiß COHRKSPONDENT.] DUNEDIN, June 3. Replying to Mr G. W. Russell's remarks regarding' politicians and broad acres, Mr Massey says: "Mr Russell stated that I hold 1000 acres worth £4O per acre within ■twenty miles of Auckland. That statement, like many other statements by Mr Russell, is incorrect. The actual position is that I own 325 aores of land at Manger©, where I have lived for tho greater part of my life. Of that area 300 acres are occupied by my eldest son, who is married and who has tho homestead on the property. I have reserved twenty-five acres for myself. I have another farm about forty miles from Auckland, which is occupied by my second eon, who is ako a married man. This land was practically in its natural state when we took it up, but we are gradually getting it into shape. That is the whole of the land I own except that I am a shareholder in a company which was started some time ago to save what at that time was thought to be a valuable industry, and incidentally the company owns some land. I am not a speculator, and have never bought land for tho purposo of selling it, nor have 1 ever bought more land than I considered was required for the members of my family. As for the suggestion that the Waiuku railway, which was referred to by Mr Russell, will increase the value of my property, it is too ridiculous for anything. " It will not benefit me by the hundredth part of a farthing, nor will it be of the slightest use to me when it is completed. I have supported it because it was promised to the people of my district thirty years ago, and has been promised on many occasions since then, and because it will pay a high rate of interest on tho cost of its construction from the day of the opening."