“Gloves Off ”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 289, 27 February 1928, Page 1

“Gloves Off ”

M.P. ANSWERS MINISTER

Mr. Ransom Accepts Challenge

“IkJOW that be has taken the gloves off I am quite ready for IX a fight,” says Mr. E. A. Ransom, M.P. for Pahiatua. accepting the Hon. A. D. McLeod’s challenge with regard to the price of land offered for soldier settlement.

Press Association. DANNEVIRKE, To-day. Replying to the challenge issued by the Hon. A. D. McLeod, Minister o£ Lands, at Te Awamutu last week, to publish the price at which he offered property to the Government for soldier settlement, also the Government valuation at the time the off dr was made, Mr. E. A. Ransom, M.P. for Pahiatua, writes to the “Danuevirke Evening News” stating that Mr. McLeod was at perfect liberty to publish every detail of the offer made by him to sell the land to the Government for soldier settlement. The land was offered about 1920. and from memory he believed the price was about. £4O an acre. The land was situated at Ruaroa, consisting of 665 acres of well-improved land. He subsequently sold 254 acres, at £52 10s an acre, the purchaser being well satisfied with the bargain. The balance of 401 acres he still held. Concluding, Mr. Ransom says: “ft is characteristic of Mr. McLeod to make personal attacks on fellow mem-

bers. He has more than once discussed my private affairs on the floor of the House, when not able to answer my arguments, but it is not usual for him to get so far out of reach when making these personal attacks. “If there was anything wrong with the offer I made to the Crown to sell land, then why has the Minister waited five years to make his challenge? Evidently what I told my audience at Whangarei has annoyed the Minister, and I have got a bite, but why this broadcast attack through the Press by innuendo? “I do not fear facts. They cannot hurt me, but insinuation is calculated to do so. Previously I have refrained from making any personal attacks upon the Minister of Lands in respect to recent purchases for settlement, but now that he has taken the gloves off, I am quite ready for a fight, but hope I shall not be guilty of hitting below the belt.” An invitation to Mr. E. A. Ransom, M.P. for Pahiatua, to allow the publication of the price at which he offered his property for soldiers’ settlement, and the Government valuation thereon, was made by the Hon. A. D. McLeod, Minister of Lands, in his address at Te Awamutu. If Mr. Ransom had washed to be perfectly frank, said the Minister, he would have admitted he the owner of an aggregated holding and that of 25,000 owners of flocks he was one of 500 odd who owned 6,000 sheep or over. If those in glass houses started throwing stones they were apt to get splinters of glass under their own skins.