LAND FOR SOLDIERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3860, 6 March 1928, Page 35

LAND FOR SOLDIERS.

DANNEVIRKE, February 27. Replying to a challenge issued bv Air A. D. Al’Leod (Minister of Lands) at Te Awainutu last week to publish the price at which he offered bis property to the Government for soldier settlement and also the Government valuation at tlie time the offer was made, Air E. A. Ransom (member for Pahiatua) writes to the News stating that Air M'Leod was at liberty to publish every detail of the offer made by him to sell land to the Government for soldier settlement. The land was offered about 1920, and from memory he believed that the price was about £4O per acre.. The land was situated at Ruaroa, consisting of 655 acres of well-im-proved land. He subsequently sold 254 acres at £52 10s per acre, the purchaser being well satisfied with his bargain, and the balance of 401 acres he still held. Concluding, Air Ransom says: “It is characteristic of Air Al’Leod to make personal attacks on bis fellow-members. He has more than once discussed my private affairs on the floor of the House when not able to answer my arguments, but it is not usual for him to get so far out of his reach when making these personaT attacks. If there was anything wrong with the offer I made to the Crown to sell land then why has the Minister waited five years to make his challenge? Evidently what I told my audience at Whangarei has annoyed the Minister, and I have got a bite, but why this broadcast attack through the press by innuendo? I do not fear facts. They cannot hurt me, but insinuation is calculated to do so. Previously I have refrained from making any personal attacks upon the Alinister of Lands in respect to recent purchases for settlement, but now that he has taken the gloves off I ain quite ready for fight, but hope I shall not be guilty of hitting below the belt.”

TERMS OF AIR RANSOM’S OFFER. WELLINGTON, February 28. Air Al'Leod to-day makes a statement in reply to Air Ransom. First, be characterised a statement by Mr Ransom at Whangarei on February 10 to the effect that he (the Minister) had replied to a proposal submitted by Mr Ransom whereby loans could be made to settlers which , would enable them to clear their farms of scrub, etc., and at the same time provide relief for the unemployed by saying that it would become too popular, as being false, and used only for the purpose of discrediting him (the Minister) in the eyes of country settlers. The Alinister added that if Mr Ransom could show that he (the Alinister) had made even a colourable approach to such a reply it would be the Alinister’s duty to apologise. Air M'Leod then deals with Ah' Ransom’s property. In March, 1920, be says, .MiRansom offered an area of 655 acres at Hakawai at £45 an acre. The Government roll value of the area at the time of the offer was £lB 15s per acre. It was only fair to Mr Ransom to say that in July, 1921, he rcoffered the same land to the Crown at £35 an acre ; but as soldier purchases had been practically stopped by then no further negotiations were made. Mr Ransom asked for particulars of the Glengarry' property purchased by the Government in October, 1919, the area being a little under 2000 acres. Air M'Leod replies that the price paid was £36 per acre. The Government roll valuation was then £2O 12s per acre. DANNEVIRKE, Afarc-h 1. Air Ransom, in further reply to the Alinister of Lands respecting the former's proposal of loans to farmers to engage the unemployed, quotes the reply of Air AV. Downie Stewart to his question in the House, and alleges that Air Al’Leod, in conversation, agreed with the reply, thus establishing Mr Ransom’s argument that his proposal was inclined to be too popular. He challenges the Minister to meet him on a public platform anywhere, provided he gives him a week’s notice.