MR RANSOM’S LAND OFFER

Evening Star, Issue 19803, 29 February 1928, Page 11

MR RANSOM’S LAND OFFER

MINISTER DISCLOSES TERMS AND GOVERNMENT VALIDATION [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, February 28. The Minister of Lands (Mr A. D. M'Leod), in his public address at To Awamutu, invited Mr E, A. Ransom, member for Pahiatua, to permit him to disclose the price at which Mr Ransom offered his property for soldier settlement at Dannevirko, together with tho Government valuation at the time of the offer. “ I have no intention of using the departmental files against any man without his consent,” said Mr M'Leod, ‘‘but if Mr Ransom asks me to do so I shall publish tho price he asked the Government for a property of his own for soldier settlement purposes, and als-j tho Government' valuation of the property at the time the offer was made.”

Mr Ransom has given that permission, and Mr M'Leod to-day makes a statement in reply. First, he characterised a statement by Mr Ransom at Whangarei on February 10 to the effect that he (the Minister) had replied to a proposal submitted by Mr Ransom whereby loans could be made to settlers which would enable them to clear their farms of scrub, etc., and at the same time provide relief for the unemployed by saying that it would become too popular, as being false, and used only for the purpose of discrediting him (the Minister) in the eyes ot country settlers. The , Minister added that if Mr Ransom, could show that he (the Minister) had made even a colorable approach to such a reply it would be the Minister’s duty to apologise. Mr M'Leod then deals with Mr Ransom’s property. In March, 1920, ho says, Mr Ransom offered an area of 655 acres at Hakawai at £45 an acre. The Government roll value of the area at the time of the offer was £lB 15s per acre. It was only fair to Mr Ransom to say that in July, 1921, he reoffered tho same land to the Crown at £35 an acre, but as soldier purchases had been practically stopped by then no further negotiations were made. Mr Ransom asked for particulars of the Glengarry property purchased by the Government in October, 1919, the area being a little under 2,000 acres. Mr M'Leod replies that the price paid was £36 per acre. Tho Government roll valuation was then £2O 12s per acre.