THE CIVIL SERVICE AND THE FARMER

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 66, 10 December 1921, Page 12

THE CIVIL SERVICE AND THE FARMER

Sir, —I trust you. will spare mo space in Tim Dominion for a few remarks in reply to Mr. Mackey's letter of November 26.

First, I would remark Mr. Mackey should stick to tho facts when lie writes to the Press. I made no “covert sneer" about "a former’s wife.” This was her signature to her letter in which she gratuitously assailed the Civil Service. It was his fraternity that first entered the ring, and he or they should not now whimper if they get a straight left or an upper cut. I have no wish to make any New Zealand settler "take the count," for I have and am assisting more than one of them financially to tide over their difficulties, at tho decont interest of 6 per cent., with money t have neither to thank the Government or New Zealand for, so Air. Mackey’s impertinence in connection with a "snug little pension” is superfluous.

But The plain truth is, in hundreds of instances, people, have taken,up land that they have neither the energy nor the capital to handle, as 1 know for a fact. As for his remarks re a "South Island blowhard,” etc., this is much better than the North Island wail for Government assistance and 'spoon-feeding. Here I might remark, some years ago 1 laid off tho road to the Champion copper mine, some twelve miles, and when the tenders came out 1 remarked to a South Island contractor who tendered, “Your prices for works are very much ETghOr Titan your South Island prices used to 'be.” I knew him before. His reply was, "You must remember you are now in the North Island, where they work so hard; they have no time to wash up their plife, knife, and fork, except on a Bunday." And 1 afterwards found out this to be an actual fact.

As for "blowing my own trumpet,” T may mention I have received letters and post cards from gentlemen in no, way connected with the service thanking mo for my letter and "spirited reply.” I have been often asked and advised row by the editor of one of the leading weekly papers of the colony who was kind enough to publish some years ago my South Sea Islands trip—to publish tn book form my early reminiscences, such as the Goldfields in 18(13. My six years afloat with a whale boat in the Strait, when I surveyed the coast from Nelson to Jackson’s Head, when I had often to spend nights at anchor or on the beach, when the sea was too heavy on a bar harbour to get to camp. Also my adventures when I was under orders for inland Patea, and took five days’ 'hard going, with fourteen horses and eight unen to' get from Hunterville to Moawhango, which now can be done in as many hours. There was no road in those days. We had the unique experience towards the end of our journey of some of the horses swimming about in the Taurangarere River at 9 p.m. on a frosty moonlight night, with our blankets on as side loads. Some years after I picked the land for the Government and laid oil Taihape township, when at the sale of same the upset price of the main street sections was £7 10s. A few years back I was told Section 1, Block VIII, brought with the hotel £25,000, and ns Hoskins, the groat actor used to say in "Formosa”: "Such is life, sweet child.”—l am, etc., 11. B. MURRAY.