THE STATE FARM AT LEVIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11057, 8 May 1899, Page 7

THE STATE FARM AT LEVIN.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— consoquonco of the loading artiolo in this morning's issue, I have decided to w"ritc a few explanatory lines ro Levin State Farm. It > s quite truo that Mr. Massoy has often linen to the fore on this question; but, f jr he has by no means been alone, nor can ho possibly ovei have 6uffored any discouragement for want of assistance. Some time ago, when 10 acres wero being stumped for the so-called orchard, myself, jlr. Hall-Jones. Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Jlaslin, and others visited and carefully looked over the estate A reference to Hansaid will prove that a few clays after our visit I made a statement of our impressions thon obtained. At that time the names I have quoted were all admitted to be independent representatives, and I believe wo all went for the purposo of obtaining truthful information. We found two middle-aged men doing their work well, the others worn discontented misfits, unaccustomed to the work. Hence thoro was little chance of them ever saving any money, for a rainy day. Their surroundings made this extremely plain. And I am bound to say l"' re we were less critical in consequence, of their having young families about them. Their axes, mattocks, etc., wore more jit for breaking stones than for chopping roots; and long handled shovels had to do duly for the spade. Wo had very good reason to believe (hut the said 10 acres would cost something like £15 per aero for slumping before it would be ready to receive tho fruit trees. Every year members pay a visit to this estate, henco tho Government aro periodically assailed on its cosily mismanagement. Mr. K. Thompson, member for Marsden, has front time to lime had a great deal to say on this subject. If a poll of members were taken, the verdict would bo to "sell it as soon as possible". Your leader has so fairly put tho position of the farm financially and otherwise that I need not repeat it. But if tho writer of tho loiter on the subject had watched the doings of Parliament ho could have found more substantial food. Sir Robert Stout is the gentleman who con unfold a lalo in connection with the llorowhcnui Block, of which this State farm at Levin is a part. Mr. Pirani is another, and he knows it from the beginning. Sir Robert .Stout has long since convinced mo that if the very purchase of the farm was not absolutely illegal, it was (which is just as bad) a political job, as be puts it, a job to give the natives a largo stun of money, some thousands, wherewith to enable them to fight an election. From the very beginning (lie law courts havo been kept in motion, i'p to iho cod of last session tho (tavernment's own law posts paid out of taxes amounted to £1091. The Government owo Sir Walter Under and Major Kemp about another £700, as per court judgments. As against Sir Waller Duller they have lost another Supreme Court case, which means, I suppose, several hundreds more of the taxpayers' mi iey. If (he gentleman who wroto the lcttei will take the trouble to prolio this business to the bottom. 1 assure him bo will find mailer for a very strongly-worded correspond As one of the members of Ibo Parliamentary Committee who have year after year had to investigate the details, I could write, for hours, and then not have related one-half of the differences and difficulties wo had i" unravel, and yet the end does not seem one whit nearer. In my opinion, it lias been from first tc last, a clandestine, shifty, and unworthy business, tho Government always having had to nay tho piper.— I am. etc., W. Cbowtucb.