“NOTHING SECRET”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27039, 25 March 1949, Page 4

“NOTHING SECRET”

DISPOSAL OF FARM CAPE SAUNDERS DISTRICT STATEMENT BY MINISTER Special to the Daily Times WELLINGTON, Mar. 24. “There was nothing secret or sinister about the recent disposal of a block of land at Cape Saunders by the Land Settlement Board, and I am perfectly satisfied, on investigation, that the board’s decision was proper and equitable,” said the Minister of Lands, Mr Skinner, in a statement to the Daily Times on the subject of a complaint from a returned serviceman in this morning’s issue. The area of 198 acres concerned was not an economic unit, said Mr Skinner, and not capable of development into one. Adjoining and very near the block at Papanui were three farmers on Crown leases whose holdings were uneconomic. It was considered only fair to divide the available land among their holdings to bring them more into line with each other and also with a fourth farm in the vicinity belonging to a returned serviceman from the recent war. One of three civilians with 151 acres, running about 200 ewes and 30 cattle, received 122 acres, not 155 as alleged, thus making his farm one of 273 acres. A returned man from the First World War with 234 acres, running 365 ewes and up to 40 cattle, received 35 acres, giving him in all 269 acres. The third man, returned from the recent war, had 232 acres, running 365 ewes and up to 40 cattle, and received 41 acres, giving him 273 acres. The fourth man already had 243 acres and ran 500 ewes and 20 cattle. He was not given more land. “ The fifth farmer, returned from the recent war and possibly the complainant, was dairying on 142 acres, but was some distance from the block disposed of,” continued Mr Skinner. “ This man wrote to me about the land before it was cut up, and was informed that the Land Settlement Board would shortly make a decision and that his application would be fully considered. That was done, but the board regarded the case of the other three men as being much stronger. In the circumstances, there was no reason to advertise the disposal, but there was certainly no secret about it. The civilian concerned, a practising farmer, was surely entitled in the circumstances to the assistance he received to enable him to carry on.”