CORRESPONDENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 October 1917, Page 4

CORRESPONDENCE.

LI MR—A BURNING

QUESTION

(To fclie Editor.)

Sir, —At the meeting of Hie Westland Comity Council held on Monday last, a letter was read from the Westland A. and P.-Association asking the Council’s support to a proposal to place the limestone deposit at Ross under the control of the iarmers of the district. Cr Ward, it should be mentioned, while a provisional director of the proposed Company which the promoters have endeavoured to iorm for months past (with the object, so they say, ol supplying cheap lime) has sat as a member of the Westland Land Board/and voted and acted in the interests of the proposed Company.

Mr Ward M.CC., M.L.8., according to the Guardian of Tuesday last, delivered himself thus : “Mr Ward expressed surprise at such a letter emanating from a body of men professing to represent the farming community. He protested at the Association, after doing nothing while the

lime movement was in progress throughout the Coast in which he had personally represented the Council, now coming forward and endeavoring to block the movement to supply cheap lime for the farmers. The Association, as the result of the letter goes down very -much in his estimation as the friend of the farmers of the West Coast. The present movement by the Company formed is entirely in the interests of the farmer, and the Company will be more representative of the farmers of Westland than the A. & P. Association of Koiterangi. He felt that the members of the Association knew nothing of the contents of the letter or it would not be here today.”

Cr. Ward, it will be observed, refers to the A and P. Association of Koiterangi which is more than Likely an intentional gibe. I would like to ask what lias Cr. Ward done in the direction of assisting the objects of the Association ? His cheap sneer at the “Koiterangi Association” does not, after all, redound to his credit, and if he took but a tr fling interest in the Association’s affairs he would know that its members are living in all parts of the West Coast, whilst the executive committee consists of residents of both Koiterangi and Kokatahi. Cr, Ward has not thought fit to attend any of the Association’s meetings. Had he done so, he would have been more aliye to the requirements of the fanning community. Possibly he may have been elected to the executive on which there would be ample scope for his discourses in regard to the “ down-trodden ” farmers.

The verbose but self-styled mighty champion of the farmers goes on to refer “to the men professing to represent the farming community,” and saying that the Association as a result of the letter received by the Council “ goes down very much in his estimation,” concluding his remarks by saying “ he felt sure that the members of the Association knew nothing of the contents of the letter, or it would not be here to-day.” What a mass of contradictions ! First of all lie condemns the Association, and then offers an apology oil behalf of the members by attaching the blame to the author of the letter; saying, in effect, that the members could not be aware of its contents, etc. Let me inform Cr. Ward and the other members ofthe Council, that the officer of the Association was instructed to write the letter, and I regret that Cr. Ward has endeavoured to attach a stigma to the officer-in question. 1 would take this opportunity of stating that the Association holds no brief for any person or persons, but at the present time is engaged in an endeavour to prevent valuable limestone deposits falling into the hands of private speculators.

The various local bodies in the district associated themselves with the proposed company at the outset, but when we find that the valuable limestone deposits are likely to be exploited by others than farmers, it is certainty time somethiugshould he done to combat such a proposal, especially when it transpires the movement is being furthered by some of those who claim to be the farmers’ friends, Cr. Ward included.

Until the Association became dubious of what the Westland Land Board was likely to do. my executive did not deem it necessary to safeguard the interests of the farmers, but seeing that the functions ol the Association are such as to warrant our intercession at tlie present juncture, we are moving in the matter and intend using what liLtle influence we may possess in preventing the creation ot a monopoly of one of our chief assets.

So that the public may judge the position from every point of view, I intend in the near future to publish the whole of the facts concerning the Westland A. & P. Association and its dealings with the limestone deposits ofthe district.

Apologising for trespassing so much on your valuable space.

I am etc., L. H. Morke, President, Westland A. & P. Association Koiterangi, Oct 3, 1917.

[Onr correspondent is quite wrong' in suggesting that the proposal to work the Ross deposits by the Company as proposed, is in any shape or form, “a monopoly.” The scheme is attempting to achieve something in quite the opposite direction. Fix Guardian.]