THE RIPPONVALE SETTLEMENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20642, 14 February 1929, Page 7

THE RIPPONVALE SETTLEMENT.

TO THE EDITOR.

SIR, — I was very interested to read in your issue of the 12th inst. a letter from the Cromwell Development Company respecting Ripponvale. No responsible officer of that company could truthfully make such statements as are contained in that letter. Messrs Phillips and Bridgman were exceedingly mild in their statements to the Minister at Cromwell or were not fully reported surely, or they would not have stopped where they did in their condemnation of this " one man ” company. The company is responsible for settlers leaving their holdings. There have been promises broken—most vital ones, too.,Every settler has not had his full quota of water. I beg to quote a letter which recently appeared in your columns over the same signature this, which answers in detail the denials given by the Cromwell Company:— Your report on the Irrigation Committee’s interview with Messrs Morltzon and Jolly shows that Mr Morltzon admits that the Cromwell Development Company has never carried out Its agreement as to supplying the settlers with water through a meter or gauge box. It was this part of the agreement that gave the poor settlers their confidence to take up land at all. For a man to have to spend halt his time squabbling with his neighbours over a small dribble of water meant that ruination to Ripponvale. which Is now nearly complete, Mr Jolly is reported as saying: ” There was no doubt that 35s an acre could have been paid for the land had the settlers been able to get tho water,” Irrigable land was sold to settlers on Rlpponvllo (with young trees on It) at £l2O an acre. Does tho Government know or care anything of these matters? Is it within the scope of the Government’s present Inquiry to take up and obtain redress for those who have been ruined by the Cromwell Company’s handling of its "rights'’? I have been to Ripponvale at all times of the year, and I have never yet seen enough water in the race to supply Ripponvale settlers. There is enough water at the source, but it does not reach Ripponvale because the.race is not even big enough to bring it.—l am, etc., Wellington. Dunedin, February 14.