LEPPERTON.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16724, 27 April 1920, Page 2

LEPPERTON.

FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. April 26.—With your kind permission I will endeavour as briefly as possible to reply to “Bonafido Cow Jockey. What an extraordinary title!' If he had signed himself bonafido farmer I should have thought much more of him, as that is one of the planks in my platform. However, ho has not hit me very hard and there is quite an clement of civility in his remarks.. In tho first place he says I ought to know that these so-called speculators arc men who have bought in at the sellers’ figure. I suppose the sellers’ figure must stand, bub with regard to having improved the land quickly at a reasonable cost with a fair amount of wellplaced work I certainly do not agree. I have two instances in this district which are quite on all fours. I will quote oue which will do for both. About two months since A bought a farm from ii'to take possession on July 1 next. In the meantime A sold again at an advance of something like £ls .an acre without having taken possession or having clone a tap. Surely “Mr. Jockey” this is not so-called but definite - speculation. I could go on quoting cases of a less glaring nature, but instead will'bopc that this,business will ease down, that our new-comers will he bona fide settlers, settle down ■ and assist production for all they are worth. This I imagine to bo in the best interests of this district and.Taranaki generally. And now my buckjumping friend I will conclude by cjrawing your attention to the note of_ warning sounded by Mr. Kewton King at the Inglewood County dinner on Friday last while speaking to the toast Farming Interests with regard to he inflation of land values. He said ho was nob a pessimist, but there was a time when safe investment passed into speculation. I consider this gentleman’s views most unselfish and certainly expert evidence and whether that evidence is in my favour or in that of Joekev” I leave your readers to judge.