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Hokitika Guardian, 25 August 1924, Page 2

Tmk newly-appointed .Minister of Lands has olfered .some explanation of his adverse remarks against the* Returned Soldiers Associations in the* late financial debate in Pai liainont. His explanation is not a happy one, and Mr McLeod has not yet acquired the knack of saying the right thing in the* right way. Mr Mc Leod offers a jibe to tho returned men in regard to their apparent apathy towards their association This is rather unfortunate coming from

a Minister of the Crown and for a Government which promised to do so much lor the men when they went away. Had the Government been disposed to honor all the promises freedy and readily, there would ho no occasion f«r the existence of an Association, except for purposes of comradeship. But the Association became a neessarv organisation to organise public opinion to secure something of what had been promise I. Had tin* men not asseviated hut left it entirely to the government, they or their dependent's would have received a very small moiety of what was granted them ultimately. It can In* quite understood that many of the men who did their hit are so disgusted with the* effort it has taken to secure a measure of consideration. that they have dropped out of tin* light. If this is tho true interpretation- and we believe* it accounts for a great deal of the apathy of the men- then Mr McLeod needs all the lecturing the Association can give him. His latest utterances will help to stir up the spirit of disgust among the men. who will resent his jits.* for tho spirit ill which it is given. Mr McLeod is seeking to cover his own illjudged works, but lie magnifies the matter to lii.s own detriment. Mr McLeod's attitude, if sincere in tho desire to help the* men. should In* to induce them to associate more and more, and glean from them all he can as to the host method of helping the* rank and file to make good. The ease for the soldiers is one for sustained sympathy of a practical nature, but if we judge Mr McLeod's intentions from his words we are afraid the ex-soldiers will look in vnin for practical sympathy frrm that Minister of the CTown.

The prospect of facilities to expand the pig ln4u«try In this district, partlculnm

of which appeared in the previous issue t slioultl lie ;i source *f gc/ncral gratification to the settlors of Westland. Through the local factory tent rail.se'd in town, the expansion liecomes possible, as with the cool storage availahle, pork "ill ho bought at a payable price to the grower, and forwarded to a ready market on the Hast Coast. The rearing of is a profitable part of dairying and fanning, but the quostion of a market has been the stumblie. block heretofore. From ti»io to time there was talk of establishing a bacon factory, but that would olitail the outlay of considerable expenditure. The commodious dairy factory lately built tn Weld Street lias been so desiguvd sis to provide- tool storage, anil ono of its ultimate uses was in regard to handling pork for export. The local factory, it appears will be prepared to buy up all pigs reared in the district, and it is believed a very tempting price will lie offered to glowers. The product will be taken m tit the cixil stores, and it will be for the Company to dispose of the carcases in the market it is possible to secure. This arrangement should bu very satisfactory to the growers who will receive payment for th« dead "might supplied to the factory, and that will bo the end of the business so fat as the farmer is concerned. From till act omits there will be a marked expansion in pig farming in Westland now that facilities for disposal of the product arc being provided. The result should be very satisfactory all round, and result in a greater How of wealth into the district. Certainly the Dairy Company is justifying- its existence as an aid to local development and expansion, and its efforts will come to lie very much appreciated in the matter referred to.