LAND AGGREGATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19879, 24 February 1928, Page 10

LAND AGGREGATION.

MINISTER SPEAKS OUT..

POSITION OF MR. RANSOM.

"PEOPLE IN GLASS HOUSES."

[by telegraph.-- special reporter.] TE AWAMUTC, Thursday. In the course of a reply to critics of the Government, the Hon. A. D. McLeod, Minister T>f Lands, speaking in the Town Hall to-night, said Mr. E. A. Ransoik, mem&er for Pahiatua, had a lot to say about the squatters, the big sheepowners and aggregation. .If Mr. Ransom had wished to be perfectly frank he would have admitted he was the owner of an aggregated holding and that of 25,000 owners of flocks he was one of 500 odd who owned 6000 sheep or over. "Jf the subdivision of aggregated sheep runs is a virtue, I know of no one in a better position to prove it than the member of Pahiatua with his own property," said Mr. McLeod. "Mr. Ransom is also very keen on criticising the Government for purchasing land for soldiers' settlement at a figure far above the Government taxing value. I have no intention of using departmental files against any man without his consent, but if Mr. Ransom asks me to do so I shall publish the price he asked the Government for a property of his own for soldier 6ettlemefifc purposes and also the Government valuation-of the property at the time the offer was made. I have no desire to speak hard of any man or to hit below the belt, politically or otherwise, but if those in glass houses start throwing stones they are apt to get splinters of glass under their own skins."