THE MOTUTARA ESTATE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18247, 14 November 1922, Page 9

THE MOTUTARA ESTATE.

DEFENCE OF THE PURCHASE. Aft OFFICIAL REPOET. " ONE OF THE BEST" BARGAINS. The purchase by the Government of the Motutara Estate from Sir Edwin Mitchelson, which has been criticised in Parliament and elsewhere, was defended by Mr. V. Potter in his address at the Methodist School, Greenwood's Corner, last evening.' Mi'. Potter read a report prepared by Mr. R. P. Greville, commissioner of Crown lands for North Auckland. Mr. Greville stated :—

" The property was first offered to the Government in March, 1919, but owing to the great press of work in this office no inspection was made, and on September 24, oil the same year, Mr. Mitchelson withdrew' his offer to sell to the Government. Subsequently the property was re-offered, and in the first instance was inspected by Mr. J. E. Wells, a member of the Land Purchase Board, and later on by myself and the other members of the Board, Messrs. J. Batty and T. Bassett. j' In accordance with the requirements of the Land for Settlements Act, an independent valuation of the property was made. This did not include the buildings, of which a special valuation was made by a reliable builder and contractor. The valuation of the land amounted to £33,823, and the valuation of the buildings U< £8032,' making the total valuation of the property £41,ti55. The Land Purchase Board's first recommendation wa6 an offer of £36,500 for the property. Mr. Mitchelson refused this, and, as a result of further negotiations the Land Purchase Board increased its offer to £38,000, which was accepted by the vendor." Mr. Greville, after giving a description of the character of the land, says :—"The property is divided into 17 subdivisions. On seven of the sections there were comfortable well-built houses, ready for immediate occupation. In addition to these houses, there were two other houses included in the purchase, which have been removed to separate sections. From other buildings .on the property, which have been dismantled', two additional houses have been built, so that, out of the 17 sections, 11 are provided .with comfortable houses as part of the original purchase. " The settlers on the estate are making good progress, and have very good prospects, and I have no doubt at all that the settlement will be thoroughly successful. I regard Motutara as on© of the best parchases made, and, as chairman of the Land Purchase Board and commissioner of Crown lands for the district, I take the full responsibility for the purchase."

AUCKLAND WEST SEAT. ADDRESS BY MR. SAVAGE. CRITICISM OF GOVERNMENT. Criticism of the Government policy and an outline of the Labour Party platform were given by Mr. M. J- lavage. Labour candidate for Auckland West, at a meeting held in the Heme Bay Road hall last evening. Mr. T. Inglis presided over an attendance of about 130. The candidate was given an excellent hearing. Mr. Savage said a Government should reflect the economic conditions of the and the Government failed in its function when it failed to keep pace with industrial development. Ho deplored the wholesale borrowing of the Kef oral Party. The reduction of wages of public servants was a mistake, for it meant the spending power of -the people was reduced, while the reduction was equivalent to a class tax. A tax should < be uniform in principle and univernal in application. What had the Labour Party to offer to make the position better? The Labour programme was the best answer to critics. Mr. Savage referred to the parly's attitude on the questions of land, methods of voting, education, shipping, insurance, rights of women, and other matters. With reference to the question of loyalty, Mr. Snvage said he went up to tho Speaker's Chair in the House, and took the oath of allegiance without any reservation. Men with capital were not loyal to the , Empire with their money. They invested where the highest interest rates ruled, whether it was in the empire. of the Mikado or the Empire of King George. A vote of thanks and confidence in the candidate was carried with one or two dissentients. • : THE LABOUR PLATFORM. OPEN AIR MEETING. ATTITUDE ON IMMIGRATION. A combined open-air Labour meeting was held las), evening at the corner of Virginia Avenue and New North Road, when addresses were delivered by Messrs. F. N. Bartram (Grey Lynn), W. E. Parry (Auckland Central), and J. A. Lee (Auckland East). Mr. W. E. Moxsom presided over a gathering of several hundred. Mr. Bartram dealt at some length with the immigration policy of the .Government. Why, ho asked, had thm measure been introduced into the House? A Voice: To bring down the wages of the worker. Yes, said Mr. Bartram, it was done with the object of cheapening labour. He referred to tho Hon. W. Nosworthy's alleged statement that immigration was the surest way of bringnig the working man to his senses. The undoubted aim of the Bill, said Mr. Bartram, was to flood the labour market and so reduce wages. . ', Mr. Parry dealt with the housing problem and other phases of the Labour platform, while Mr. Lee followed much on the same lines as the previous speakers. The meeting closed with cheers for the Labour Party. A'largely-attended meeting of members of the Waterside Workers Union was held yesterday morning in the waiting room. Quay Street. Messrs. W. E. Parry and F. N. Bartram addressed the meeting on the, political situation. A resolution was /carried unanimously thanking tho speakers, and pledging all • present to work for the return of the Labour candidates. CANDIDATES' ADDRESSES. MEETINGS FOR TO-DAY. Mr. M. J. Savage (Auckland .West), Franklin Road Methodist Schoolroom. Mr. ,J. S. Dickson (Parnell), ' St. Aidan's Hall, Ascot Avenue, Remucra. Mr. S. M. Wren (ParneLl), St. George's Hall, Ranfurly Road, Epsr.ni. Mr. W. Noton (Parnell), St. Mark's Hall, Remuera Road. : Mr. 0. Mcßrino (Parnell), Parnell Picture Palace. Messrs. J. A. Lee and W.' E. Parry (Auckland East and Auckland Central), corner of Edwin and France Streets. • Mr. V. H. Potter (Roskill), St. Barnabas' Hall, Mount Eden. Miss E. Melville ,(Roskill), Presbyterian Hall, Mount Eden Road. Mr. F. N. Bartram (Grey Lynn), Richmond Hall. Hon. C'. J. Parr (Eden),. Mission Hall, Green Bay. Mr. H. G. R. Mason (Eden), Avondale Town Hall, 3 p.m. Mr. F. S. Morton (Eden), Public Hall, Glen Eden. Mr. W. J. Jordan (Manukau), Methodist Hall, Greenwood's Corner. Mr. W. D. Adnams (Manukau), Mount Koskill School. . Mr. A. Harris (Waitemata), Parish ...... v auxhall Hoad, Devonport. Mr. R. F. Way (Waitemata), Foresters' Hall, Takapuna. Mr. J- Kea (Franklin), Papatoetoe Picture Theatre. Mr. R- E. Hornblow (Kaipara), Public Hail, Riverhead. MEETING OF SUPPORTERS. Mr. Hall Skelton (Parnell), Epsom Library.