THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1908. FACTS VERSUS FICTION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9030, 22 February 1908, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1908. FACTS VERSUS FICTION.

In view of the suggestion made by our lucal contemporary that the Solway Syndicate is desirous of "making some thousands of pounds out of the Masterton A. and P. Association," we cons ; der it only fair to all parties concerned that the actual facts of the position should be stated. The members of Sol way Syndicate are:— Messrs W. Perry, C. P. Vallance, Q. Donald, R. Gray and W. Strang, and several of these gentlemen have been prominent in developing the Masterton Association, while some of them are Wairarapa settlers whose personal characters should render them immune from the suggestion that they are proposing to exploit the Association in which they are personally interested from public motives. Such an insinuation as has been made by our contemporary is to be strongly resented. The views of those who favour the change of site may be wrong, but when it i 3 advocated by those who are well-known to be enthusiastic breeders and keenly alive to the interests of the district and the welfare of the Association, those who differ from them should certainly do so without imputing personal motives of a discreditable character. Now for the facts. The whole position is very fully set forth in a report, published in another col-

umn, of an interview with the president of the Maaterton A. and P.

Association on the subject. The Solway syndicate has offered 75 acres, or 90 acres, of the estate, either of which ha 3 a large frontage to the railway line, and connects with the Kurupuni railway station; or the whole of the Solway Estate —some 161 acres —at actual cost. A statement having been made that the Association had the opportunity of acquiring "this Solway land at little more than half the price, which now appears to be demanded," we may say that Mr J. A. Renall offered the estate at a price actually higher than the syndicate is now asking, while several officials of the Association assure us that beyond this no offer of land has been made to the Association to their personal knowledge within, at least, the last ten years. We wou'.d emphasise the fact that misrepresentation and insinuation do not constitute argument. We have authority for stating that the syndicate is prepsred to dispose of the land under any conditions the Association may desire, provided the latter guarantees the former against actual loss. No offer could be fairer than this, and it is evidence of the fact that the members of the syndicate earnestly desire the welfare of the Association, and are prepared to assist it without regard to personal gain. In a future issue we propose to deal with the specific reasons of the syndicate for the offer they have made.