“A CONTEMPIBLE CHARGE."

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10996, 17 July 1914, Page 8

“A CONTEMPIBLE CHARGE."

METHODS OF LAND PURCHASE,.

Mr Hinclmarsh, Labour membsrfcr Wellington South, attracted to himself more than his rightful share of notice in the House yesterday afternoon. Ha accused the Government of being anxious to ruin all farms of Stats enterprise except those which could bo turned to the profit of their friends. For instance, they were ready enough to borrow millions of money wherewith to buy Inatl at exaggerated value! from their own supporters. The Rt. Hen W. F. Maessy said he could not let this statement go nncontradicted -It was a fair sample o! the charges that came from the other side of the House, without a tittle of fact behind them. The honourable gentleman had said that the Government ware in the habit of purchasing laud from their own supporters at higher prices than the land was worth, and special reference had he?n made to the estate purchased from Mr Lethbridge, in Hawke’s Bay. lie would give &n emphatic contradictor! to this statement. The Government old not purchase land from any individual, for there was a Land Purchase Board set up by Act of Parliament. There had been no Quango in the personnel of the Land Purchase Board since the present Government came into office The Government had in that time made quite a number of purchases, bat witli the exception of one block ho had never seen one of the estates until the laud was paroliFSsd. The Government took no part in the negotiations, The other point was that Mu Lethbridge’s property was practically purchased b°tore the Government came into office, and the only part they had taken in tbe transaction was to pay .Mr Lethbridge for the property purchased by tbe previous Government. The honourable member had made a gross mis-statement of tact, and the proper thing for him to do was to stand up and apologia.-. Mr Hindmarsh said that shortly after the Government came into office he had seen Mr Massey, and ssid that be hoped the Government wou'd not take over the. Sherenden Estate without making inquiries about it, because the land was not suitable for close settlement. Mr Massey bad then replied that the matter was not fixed up, and that he would make inquiries. Mr Massey said that he was quite prepared to lay all the papers relafng to tbe purchase before Parliament. These would show that in regard to the purchase of Shereudeo there was nothing left for the Government to do whea they came into office but to confirm it, and fiud itio money. And instead of the Shoreuden fettlement bsiug a failure, it had been » thorough success. Every section bad been taken up. and so far as he had been able to learn, the settlers were well satisfied. ‘‘lt is,” lie said, “one of the moat contemptible charges cf tbe many contemptible charges that have been made against this Government hymembe'S on the ether side of the House.” Mr Hinrlmsrsh sail that all the people irjixi whom land had been purchased were supporters of the Govermsnt. Mr Massey: I give that statement an emphatic contradiction. I know several of the man from whom land li ia been purchased, and they are net ell of them friends of the Govern meet.