GALATEA SETTLEMENT.

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 82, 27 November 1931, Page 7

GALATEA SETTLEMENT.

SETTLER.

To the Editor. Sir, — I presume from Mr. W. hRichards' letter re Galatea station that he is what he accuses me of being, a person with "political motives." Possibly he is not, and is only a man with high ethical standards who wishes to support a down-trod-den department. But he and the department eontrolled by Mr. Ransom must know that there is only one way to treat scrub country. The scientifie branch of the Agricultural Department, as well as all practical farmers, knows ■ and states that the trouble with scrub J covered pumice country is that it is t acid and contains no humus. Acid | country with no humus will not grow grass that is fit for dairy cows. The mistake of Mr. Ransom and his officials is that they are trying to rush the settlement at Galatea. This cannot be done. Land turned over out of green scrub is sour and will not grow English grasses. If given time to sweeten by planting elovers, etc., there will also be humus to be turned in. My letter was critical, not partisan. Re scrub-cutting contracts. — Single men as well as married men were scrub-cutting ahd the contracts were only stopp'ed because the owner of the property objected to the work. I defy Mr. Richards to prove that two practical farmers advised the department to cut the scrub and plough the lahd at once as the 'best method of bringing in the land. Also, that they advised grubbing of scrub -as an economical method of working up the land.

Re specifications. — Mr. Richards says they were hastily drawn up. They may have been, but had the man that drew them out had to pay his own cash he would have not been hasty. Mr. Richards suggests that it is unfortunately to eritise a man who cannot reply. As all civil servants are paid by taxation of the community it is absurd to say that they are to be left to their own discretion as to the amount of our money that o they may wish to waste. Re Public Works estimates for the Te Teko-Galatea Road. — Estimates may have been made, but how often are they adhered to. The Ward Baths in Rotorua is a case of estimates being given but how has the final cost come near the estimates. This work was done by the Public Works Department. Mr. Richards has not removed my misgivings. I think that the cost at Galatea will be excessive. Ngakuru is mentioned. This also is a case of excessive expenditure by this department • that cannot be loaded on the land" if settlers are expected to take it. Let the department give the public the whole bal-anee-sheet and we will believe that their estimates are^ correct. — I am, etc.

Rotorua, Nov. 26, 1931.