MR. BUCHANAN'S OFFER.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 958, 27 October 1910, Page 6

MR. BUCHANAN'S OFFER.

— ! : the minister returns to the ATTACK. [To the Editor.] .. Sir,—Mr. Buchanan has set forth : his position regarding his offer of JE6OOO, stating that I threw cold water on his proposal. .Such is not so; not only did I not apply a cold douche to his offer, but on tho contrary, I placed before him suggestions in accordance with my promise, thereby wishing to help and guide • towards a widei field' of usefulness. ■ To these proposals Mr. Buchanan has neither responded nor replied. My object was to devote his contribution to special work in the Wairarapa, rather than to expend it in duplicating what was being undertaken' at Wereroa in 'connection with dairying. As it is impossible for you to spare-room for your full report of the deputation which waited upon me in August, MOD, I will, with your permission, give two quotations—one to show my attitude when replying to the deputation, and the other from my letter of October 2, 1909, to Mr. Buchanan. The extract from, the report of the deputation is as follows:— \"After'further discussion, Mr. Mac- ' kenzie said, that if Mr. Buchanan could see his way to allow his generous offer,to be used for specialising in seed culture ho would confer a .'very great lienefit on ,the agriculturists of tho Dominion. . . . Any man ; who left behind ' him' hotter seed and cleaner fields, and ;: richer ' soil, and a knowledge of wiser systems and more economical methods of management, did for agriculture and the race a noble service, and he should be glad to know that Mr. Buchanan would contribute his quota to' such a ser- ' vice." Tho following is tho extract from my letter to Mr. Buchanan, dated Octobcr 2, 1909:- . "I would like to'have your opinion . on the suggestion regarding seedbreeding, and also to know whether, in the event of your not agreeing to your grant being utilised in thai form, you would ho willing to havo a farm ■ established partly for seed- \ breeding purposes and partly for dairy herds. Tlw deputation asked that I should discuss tho seod-breod-ing idea with you, and this I shall bo very pleased to do at any time you can find it convenient to call, as I . am anxious that we should bo in a position to ! accept your very kind offer, and that the purpose for which it would be used would secure tho ' greatest bonofit possible. ... "P.S.—ln the ovent of your not seeing your way to agree to tho second last paragraph, I take it that your proposal of December 16, 1907, still forms tho basis of your offer." No answer has yet been received.—l i am, etc., THOMAS MACKENZIE. .Wellington, OctoJwr^G^lSllfl.