MR. HINE AND THE LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS' ACT.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 906, 27 August 1910, Page 11

MR. HINE AND THE LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS' ACT.

, .. ■ Sir,—Your correspondent "Disinterest; '■>, ed" commences his letter with a very uhV' .fortunate -phrase . .for: himself-r"excep- '■-.' tional notoriety," and without doubt the ' result or' reward ..of ;all notorious- state- ;. ,'inents, like, all ..notorious .'.actions;', as, a rule.in-'the' , course of justice brings .the '-.' notorieties into trouble,, aud lands, them ■'.•■in", their ...proper .place—oblivion. .■ Mr, ■ Hine has made' a''statement, that has no .. foundation in. fact, and , such.being the -.case it. is as' your correspondent' truth-., ••'. fully." says: exceptionally '; notorious.. ■■. "W|itli. Tegaid his remarks; on Mr. Joseph; JFCluggag'e's many offices 'and. also ;■ his intention .for the coming general elec- ' tion, iwell,.it's very good, taste everyone' , will .admit,, and one. that. evidently the ~ -Tfiiter .is ashamed of .himself when he '.- fires his'shot'.of' enmity 'behind, the wall ,of secrecy; afforded him by' the press. It .". is : ' quite true, : however, ■ that ,Mr. J. , M'.Cltiggage is. a justice ; -' of • the peace, :.that' he ,is a member of,the Land Board, , and that-he is an' honour to both insti- . •'. tutions and, is '.recognised ».by. the; busi- ' ness men: of ttio Dominion-aa an hbnour- ; .able, and; upright, man, and as such '■■ ... when'; in.,, defence of (himself 'and, other ■!■ members bfAthe.Taranafci Land'JJoard he r: contradicts a. statement that , "Disinter-. ested" admits had/ho foundation in'fact, ■ when-he .admits,it was.only ; a.series of "wordsaad. phrases," therefore , 'a.: mere : ; nothing. 'And if a representative" of •aof: tlio Stratford'electorate luges in such'.waste ; qf' time .and-'-, mis- ■•; us«s the' privilege that is conferred upon ~''.; him by some-who had some faith in him, ■■'■'■ 'well, it istime he made'room for some-" . one .whq. will : .attend to -;the- business of : ; - the country.—l. am, etc.,' .' v : '\\:f- y .:iu ■;.;,;;.'V'v ; JAMES 'SEXTON. '': ■■ Sir,~Ee''TDisinterested's" letter in your -'.'. te6ue"of, yesterday Tβ Air. Hihe arid 'the '-.'.' Land;for Settlements Act. ;l may :say Mr. Hine hasyet to prove his-stateniants-madii in the House,-withdraw them, or'lose his X reputation; , I. repeat again there is not ■ the slightest truth:in. Mr; Hine's.charge ■ against the Tarnnaki. Land Board and its administration.■;of;' the.Land for, Settle- ; :, meats Act.; He, like "Disinterested,"and his Opposition I'rieiids, know littlo' oi no •. thing , pf; the different Land .Acts and their' ■ administration. -Why : don'fr they,- .';., criticising.the land policy'of th'e-present .'■ .Government,.,be fair,and give facts? It . .is well.known -the.;.Tarana'ki Land-Board ■.'"-' and .other land boards, hive given'.iinar-: .; i ried • men. -1 with children,. ,and, no.^capital: v whatever/ land -without competition under the , improved farm settlement sys-J .-. ; tern,' and, have paid these settlers for.'fell- 1 : ' ing their, biish (the current faferuling. in ...the locality), , them , with' grass ■' Beed,.pay: tnenrspnnich-.per acre'for sow- '■■'.'•. 'ing the seed, .and allow them ; up /. towards ~ building a house, : the --whole of . .the. advance' being capitalised; .and the ■-.'eettler' paying;only ,I:per 'bent .on the ,:•;■ money, advanced. Tho settlers : iheii arc, "..given 'preference!'iinder.-i the'" co-operative. fstem: of road-making': in ■ their district, would -ask.. "Disinterested" ' and,;. his . 'y friends .if-this is,;not giving a poor man a chance to go on: tho:land? -;Why not, ;:. when 'criticising the.-.ldnd -policy of the. ■•:■:■ Governmeht,\be;fair and give all.the.dif- •■■• ferent land tenures, and not pick out the ,'f Land, for: Settlements' Act, when • they ■.. '■.■know. well, this-'class of .land is .bought by -,'.'.;-■: the State, at.generally, a high figwe, be- .■■ :lng.as,a,.rule close to a. township, with . factory, , 'etc.,"and ia not the class of-land 'tenure for persons without .any capital. .- "The settlers assisted'by -the: Government /appreciate-'it very mnch,. whicli I can -, prove by numerous.letters.received by'me 1 , . I'rom settlers themselves; ; In'.conclusion/ •■"•■' \I will .'give, "Disinterested," or any', of : his friends,--an. opportunity.-of-.backing: up '-. their "opinion if they w.iir do .so without, quibbling or.side-tracking. ,;If they can ' prove Mr. Hine's statement made in-.thq .. House :that "in Taranaki, applicants'have" been refused admission to the ballot because they: were 'hot in_ possession -of .' .£SOO, and.if you <tre going- to stop a inan who is not in possession of i 6500 lrbmob-, . : ■.' taining land, under the, land for settle- ',-. ment system, we say it is of no usa to the .; -:poor : ; man,". ;l: will •'■. donate •' iS2O ;■'.•■,.to any charitable-institution.'in Taranaki ';. .they wish; -,Tn conclusion, I'would ask ;.; "Disinterested" the' next, time■'.he ,writes ■'■ ■: to , 'disclose' his.lidentity; by , -.signing■■ his ■ ;.*liame'.—l am; etc.,-; ,•'.''-■■■. -.-- , ,- ■.. ■ ;■■;■"• 'C:: ■; 'Y~ ; Joseph' μ-cluggagb. '■-.' \- Stratford/.-August.24,-1910.. '• '";.' ■■'■•_■ ./