SOUTHLAND LAND LEASE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVIII, Issue XLVIII, 13 February 1913, Page 3

SOUTHLAND LAND LEASE

WHAT THE PURCHASER THINKS.

"AGAINST ALL GOVERNMENTS.

(Unitsd Fbsss Association.)

INVERCARGILL, Feb. 12,

Mr Gavin Brighton, whose name has been somewhat freely used in connection with the much discussed Southland leases, called at the "Southland Times" office and complained that certain newspapers had used his name in-a way'that was not warranted.

"I have no politics," said Mr; Brighton. "I have never yet voted at a political election, and I don't intend to." Mr Brighton appeared to tato the view that one government was as bad as another, but he went on to say he had no sympathy with the attempt, made to manufacture Parliamentary capital out of his lease. "I am certainly against s{r Massey in this business," said Mr Brighton, "because he has parked, with the property of the people. 1 intend to get my titles, but I do not intend -to profit, by them. I shall use them in accordance with my principles. As a Socialist I contend that Mr Massey has made a great blunder, but these who are attacking him fail to point out one aspect of tl-e . matter. My leases cover "about half a square mile, and that "a all that Mr Massey has parted with. Other rrovernment's with which Mr Mas* sey had nothine to do have sold eighty square miles cf land in my district-, and all of it is coal-bearing; some of it with, a seam twice the thickness of that in my land, and the bargain was just as bad from the State's point' of view. I am against Mr Massey these reasons, but what he had dor.e \s as no l hing compared to what has been done by others."