MINISTER OF LANDS IN FIGHTING MOOD

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6542, 25 February 1928, Page 8

MINISTER OF LANDS IN FIGHTING MOOD

VIGOROUS SPEECH AT TE AWAMUTU. i (Per Press Association.) , TE AWAMUTU, Feb. 24. The Ngaroma Settlement, 35 miles from. To Awamutu, was classed as a ‘‘cattle sick” area last week. A mass meeting at Auckland resolved that the Government’s treatment of the settlers amounted to a scandal, and the Auckland Farmers’ Union also strongly criticized the Government’s action. Hon. A. D. M'Leod, Minister .of Lanws, challenged the organizers of these meetings to meet him on the public platform and tho Te Awamutu Town Hall was crowded.last night. Mr. Hall Skelton, for the meeting of organizers, telegraphed that the short notice precluded his attendance, but offered to meet the Minister at Auckland. Mr, Robertson, for the Farmers’ Union, attended and delivered a short address. Mr. M'Leod traversed the history of the settlement and stated definitely that the Government would not entertain any idea of compensation for bush sickness, areas, but settlers who were prepared to play the game were advised to forfeit their sections to the Crown when justice would be done to them in the readjustment of the valuations when sections were allotted to them. He detailed the remissions already made. Referring to Mr. Ransom’s condemnation of the Government’s purchase of land for returned soldiers’ settlement, the Minister publicly invited Mr. Ransom to permit him to publish the price at which Mr. Ransom offered hia property for sdldiers"settlement and, also tho Government valuation of 1 the; property at the time the offer was made. '