In Lurgan, Minister Fitzsimmons addresses rumours about the negotiations between farmers and officials at the new city site outside the town. At this point, farmers were disputing the amount of money they were being paid for the land purchases for the building of Craigavon, as it would become. He speaks to the Ulster Farmers’ Union’s comments at a recent meeting in Seagoe, amid threats of blockades and is scathing about further plans to disrupt the development.
A sod-cutting ceremony is performed to mark the occasion of the beginning of construction.
The land dispute around the building of the new city had caused huge delays in construction and led to fierce confrontations.