THE MOKAU LANDS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 22 July 1911, Page 3

THE MOKAU LANDS.

AND THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION. .Mr Massey's recent attacks on the Government in respect of the Mokau laaucls have evoked the following reply from "Mr C. .A. Loughnau, solicitor. of Palmerston North, which appeared in Friday's Manawatu Times :•-■ Sir, I am not a politician and Mr Massey's general outpourings upon matters political, though at times mirth provoking in an. involuntary, not to .say elephantine manner, concern me not at all. In a district, however, in which tho Opposition party is for the time being mi top, the majority of electors with that childlike simplicity which characterises tho cult Opposition is apt to bo impressed with the importance and accuracy of all utterances made by the Leader of the Opposition. This morning's, paper contains references by Mr Massey to the performances of THE MOKAII COMPANY. which recently acquired certain interests in the notorious Mokau block which references apparently moved his Auckland sympathisers well nigh to tear*. In order to save local inhabitants from being similarly effected I hasten through the medium of your columns to -advise tiliom that in all statements referring to tho Mokau Company Mr Massey has .surpassed .Munchausen, and for straight out bald inaccuracy has out-Massoyod even .Massey. The following are „ A FEW CONNECTIONS which I commend to the consideration of your readers:--1. No syndicate purchased the Mokau block from tiro Maoris. Li fact, uobodv purchased the freehold of that block at all. A humble individual, however, named Herman Lewis, a speculator, perhaps, but as such a sad aud sorry loser (as T know well), 'by the whole Mokau Jones transaction, purchased with infinite pains and after years of litigation the right to sell the block in small areas to the general public. This right he passed on, through a syndicate, to the company aforesaid.

2. The firm of Finlay. Dalziel and Co. does not. and never did represent the purchasing syndicate, but on tilio contrary. T did, and always have done, and for the benefit of my health and otherwise T propose to continue to do so, Mr Massey notwithstanding.

3. The syndicate, now merged into the .Mokau Coal and Estates Co., Ltd.. which is so afflicted as to passes .Mi- Robert McXab for its cliainnn.ii and me for its solicitor, ■lias not acquired one foot of land sinco it purchased Herman Lewis' interest, in the .Mokan block. Moreover it lias its HANDS PARTKTLAHLY FULL at the present time with that venture, and dots not want to acquire any more land. It is therefore .somewhat officious of the ActingPremier to broadcast any more Ord-M's-iii-Coii-ir-il, as .Mr Ma.ssey alleges he has done, permitting the Company ti> purchase another 17.000 acre- which it ha-; ccriinly not piirchasei! and dues not intend to purchase, but which .Mr -Mnssey says that it. actually -acquired. -I. The .Mekan syndicate, according to the .-aim* politically inspired evangelist, to wit, Mr .Massey. is a gang of spccnlntors. not to say thieves. So be it. Rut does Mr Massey (happen to kinw THE PEHSOXXFdi of that Gang of Ali Babas':' If not let me reveal the'in to him. Robert .McXab. late Minister of Lands, and Chairman of Iho Companv. First robber. 'Robert Donald Douglas .McLean. Hawke's Hay, sheepfainicr. capitalist, kite Opposition member of Parliament and supporter of Mr .Massey. Second robber. William Nelson. Hawke's Ray, sheepfariner, capitalist. Oppositionist. Third robber. Mason Chambers and Rerinard Chambers, ditto, ditto. Konrtli and fifth robbers. Paul Hunter. Hawke's Ray ditto ditto. Sixth robber. Arthur Gwavas Spry Carlyon. ditto, ditto. Seventh robber. And myself, with a few other local undesirables of a le-s prominent type mere jackals in that den of Opposition LIONS! A SPORTING (M-'KER (MOO TO WIN! Sir. I am tired, and to <i-o on correcting the inaccuracies of the Leader of the OjijMi'diii n L not a o.nciiight's job. so I desist for the time being, but if -Mr Massey or anyone else wants t'.'.e ti,e ia;-t> ai«;..i.t liie Al.okau Company, its lite and works, they can get them quite easily by applying to the right person, to wit, myself. And if anyone can ik.v.-c the accuracy of any single statement hitherto made by Mr Massey, about tlio .Mokau Company. I undertake forthwith to SI'RSCRIRE ONE HLNDRED POLNDS .(-£100) to the OPPOSITION CAMPAIGN KENT), and to VOTE FOR MR. DAVID RE ICE at the next general election!.- I am. etc.. C. A. LOEGHXAX. Palmerston N".. July 20.