COMPENSATION COURT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 244, 12 September 1940, Page 9

COMPENSATION COURT

MOUTOA LAND CLAIM

EVIDENCE FOR THE CROWN,

The Compensation Court yesterday heard further evidence for the Crown in the case in which Mr F. S. Easton, of Moutoa, claimed £119,754 8s as payment for 4565 acres of land at Moutoa and Paiaka taken by the Government for flax-growing and research. His Honour Mr Justice Smith presided and there were with him Messrs M. F. Bourko (Wellington) and W. It. Birnio (Palmerston North) as assessors. Mr M. B. Bergin (Foxton) appeared for claimant, and Mr H. R Cooper for the Crown. Continuing his evidence, under crossexamination after the luncheon adjournment, D. It. Ogilvie stated that about 18 months ago Messrs ltoss, Rough and Co., after cutting flax, commenced breaking in an area of land at Koputaroa. Bullocks were turned on to it; the land was not ploughed, and about two months ago it was oil tho market for sale at £‘2o an acre.

W. Nye, of Foxton, a llax-miller from 1917 to 1929, said that in that period bo secured flax from the Moutoa area (at tho lowest point). The flax became thinner because of banking along the Manawatu River producing flooding of the area lor considerable periods This flooding was brought about bv tho concentration of water in tho lower reaches.

It. T. Wright, of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, put in a memorandum in which it was stated that claimant took no cognisance of the state of the market now for hemp. IT. F. Sincock, general manager of a rope and twine company at Dunedin, said his company preferred sisal to phormium. Sisal could be landed at Dunedin for £3O a, ton. F. W. Vickennan, managing director of the New Zealand Woolpack and Textile Coy., stated that in 1935 the company was £75,500 to the bad, owing to trading losses and the writingoff of unsuitable machinery. Tho Government had always had a debenture over tho company, and, in consideration of tho enlargement of "this, took over the virtual control of tho factory. There was now no export market whatever for flax. If tho company could get tow it would prefer that to fibre because it was better and would produce a better woolpack. Last year the Government subsidy was withdrawn and a loss of £4OOO was shown by the company. Witness 1 put in several types of fibre, phormium and imported fibre.

Cross-examined, witness said that' all losses were included in the £75,500 quoted, and thus this figure included money paid for a patent process which had not been used.

N. E. Gifford, land valuer, of Feilding, said the area was not saleable as a farming proposition. The Court then adjourned until 2.15 p.m. to-day, as it intended to inspect the area thi3 morning.