THE MOUTOA ESTATE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1416, 26 June 1915, Page 3

THE MOUTOA ESTATE.

(To the Editor). Sir. —Taking up the Manawatu Herai.d of the 24th iust., I noticed an article copied from the Wellington Post and an interview with the Mayor of Foxton, on the subject of the Moutoa Estate. I don’t think much of his statements. They are just a beggarly attempt to throw dust in the eyes of readers. These statements are absurd in the eyes of Foxton people, What does he mean by “practically the whole oi the land suitable for dairying has been sold ?” The fact remains that many hundred acres of land, admirably suited for dairying, are still held by Messrs Stevens, Easton and Austin. And again, will Mr Fraser be good enough to furnish you with a statement as to how much land —rich fertile land —• was bought back by the syndicate or individual members thereof ; and how much land individually and as a syndicate is held by this trio, who sell flax to millers at “3s to ,£1" Per ton. lie forgot to state that the millers had to pay £3OO for the right to cut, and then pay a royalty 011 every ton, Why for the month of June the royalty price has been fixed at £1 2s 6d per ton, and it has recently been much higher. East spring, when the market was down below zero the lowest price paid was 7s, and what about the limes when the millers had to pay about 30s. Will Mr Fraser say I’m wrong ? Mr Fraser did uot say that if a mill changed bauds the buyer has had to pay another £3OO before he could start cutting, and yet we read oi “royalties that have not been excessive." What would he call excessive? Why even the workers express pity for the millers who are between the devil and the deep sea. Millers cutting oli the Estate pay on the basis of the London prices on a sliding scale, and noton the prices obtainable in Wellington. The result is that with the frequent rises in Home freights and war risks the miller has to shoulder it all. What margin is there left (or him at the present time ? I’d rather be a fly boy than run one of these Foxton mills under Estate conditions. What about these three creameries “supplied by settlers on the Moutoa Estate ?” More dust. Perhaps he means the Foxton and Maiotiri creameries and the Shannon dairy factory. Why, these would be prosperous if none of the Estate had been sold. Another suggestion : Could we get the names of those twentythree owners ? —I am, etc., The Man in the Street. Foxton, June 26th. 1015. (To the Editor.) Sir.— l read with amusement the Mayor’s statement given to the Wellington Post about the Moutoa Estate and which you printed in your last paper. It is really funny. I suppose the Mayor, who is the paid servant of the syndicate, thought to discount the agitation for the cutting up of this property in the eyes of tiie people who read the Post and possibly the Government. His remarks might fool a few people, but he can’t bamboozle the people of this district, who know that the holding of this land by the syndicate-one member of which, sir, was a champion of the Great Liberal Party whose cry was “the greatest good to the greatest number !" is uot in the best inlerst of Foxton. Well, s'r, the syndicate deserve credit for taking over the estate when tlrey did because it was hawked about at that time but no one had the pluck to take it on. They took it and their wildest dreams of wealth have been more than realised. From the flax royalties alone and without hardly any expenditure on the swamp they have at the least raked in ,£12,000 per year. And for the right to cut flax millers had to pay the sum of ,£3OO ! It a miller sold out the incoming miller had to pay the syndicate another ,£3OO and soon. But Mr Fraser forgot to mention this. Oar Mayor talks tommy rot when be tells the public that all the land suitable for dairying has been disposed cf. He must be dreaming, sir. Another thing, why should the Foxton millers be held under the thumb of the syndicate. The hemp industry is of national importance and the State should not allow a monopoly of the green blade and the owners of the ilix areas should be brought within the scope of the Arbitration Court. The miller has to meet the demands of the employees, but this beautiful monopoly gets oil scot free. What income tax does the syndicate pay to the State ? Why did not Mr Fraser tell us about this ? In my opinion, sir, the great Liberal Party should have taken over this property to protect the hemp industry years ago, and the Government should lose no time in doing so now, independent of laud for settlement purposes and Mr Fraser’s modest remarks, I think there is an antimonopoly Act in existence and it would be interesting to know how it applies in this case, for the operations of the syndicate are on a par with the sugar trust. I say sir, without fear of contradiction, and I will produce facts to support it, that the holding of this estate by the present owners has not been and is not in the best interests of the hemp industry, the State and Foxton in particular, and I don’t think much of our Mayor’s mental capacity when he tries to throw dust in the eyes of the public by seeking to continue a monopoly which is keeping back the town over which he is Chief Magistrate.—Yours etc., One Who Knows.

Sir.— Could you inform the public whether the Mayor’s remarks which you published Irom the Evening Post in last issue concerning the Moutoa Estate, which it is publicly desired should be acquired by the Government for settlement purposes, etc., was paid for as an advertisement or given as a news item ? —Yours, etc., In Doubt. [The article appeared as an inter view by the Post representative with the Mayor, and not as an advertisement. —Ed. H.]

(To the Editor). Sir. —Will you also allow me space for a final word on the subject which has been under discussion during the last few days. “Woolwich Infant” is quite happy to find that Mr Rowe has derived so m ’’ pleasure from his epistolary ..s. Must also acknowledge the Rev. gentleman’s kindly remarks concerning himself. Mr Rowe says we shah agree to differ on the question o. munition supplies, etc. In that lie says truly, for I pin my faitl to the words of Mr Asquith and Mr Eloyd George, and if Mr Rowe will read, mark, learn and inwardly digest their (authentic,.' speeches, I think he will find the worker at Home has been far more loyal than those for whom he has been made a scapegoat. Ret me reassure Mr Rowe that the worker needs no champion and I do not pose as such, but should consider myself false to my friends and fellows, if, when their character is impeached, or appears to be, I remained silent. And now Mr Editor, farewell. Thanking you, sir, for your valuable space. —I am, etc , Woolwich Infant. P.S.—The Woolwich Infant was always good in a three-round spar.