ONE AMENDMENT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 43, 30 November 1940, Page 2

ONE AMENDMENT

SMALL FARMS BILL PASSED.

STRENUOUS) OPPOSITION FAILS

(Per Press Association)

'WELLINGTON, November 29.

The members of the Opposition today put up a strenuous fight in the committee stages against the passing of the Small Farms Amendment Bill, and amendment ' after amendment, moved by them to various clauses of the measure, were defeated on a vote of the House of Representatives. During the afternoon the debate was confined mostly to points which had been well covered during the second reading debate. In all 12 divisions were forced by the Opposition during the afternoon, and in every case the ■Government had a satisfactory majority. Only one amendment to the Bill was moved by the Government, the Hon. F. Langstone moving an amendment to Clause 4, to the effect that the lands of persons absent from New Zealand with the armed forces shall not be taken. This amendment was passed on the voices.

The principal opposition was shown to Clause 4 of the Bill, which gives power to take land for the settlement of discharged soldiers, and Clause 8, which deals with the matter of compensation. Four amendments were moved to Clause 4, and a division was forced on the whole clause, which was eventually passed with the Ministerial amendment above referred to by 40 votes to 18. This vote was a fair indication of the average of the voting on the different amendments throughout the day. Three amendments were also moved to Clause S', an effort being made by the Opposition to insert a provision that compensation should be paid for land which was within a reasonable price of the market value of land. "When clause nine, which provides that a Magistrate and two assessors shall constitute the Compensation Court, was under consideration, Mr F. W. Doidge (National, Tauranga) moved that a. judge of the Supreme Court be substituted for the word “Magistrate” whenever it occurred. He declared that a farmer under the Bill had lost the right of the freehold and now hie was to lose his previous right of going to the 'Supreme Court if he thought he was not getting a square deal. An Experiment. The Pfi'ime Minister said that the Government would frankly admit that the departure made in the clause was an experiment, but it also felt that no injustice would be done. If injustice were done he \yould undertake to alter the method. If the experiment did mot work and there were possibilities of injustice, the Government was prepared to amend it. Mr Fraser also referred to talk outside the House of violence or threats of violence over the opposition to the Bill, declaring that these threats Were made by members of the House or others these expressions would he scrutinised by the law officers. People were entitled to express themselves freely and forcibly, said Mr Frasr, but some of the remarks thathad been. made at these meetings came very near the borderline.

Mr W. A. Bodkin (National, Central Otago) suggested that the most disturbing statement came from the Government member for New Plymouth, who had told the House that it was part of the scheme for the conscription of man-power and wealth. Injustice, he contended/ could only be proved in a judicial way by evidence. The amendment moved ' by Mr 'Doidge was lost on a division by 36 votes to 16, and a similar amendment he moved on the next clause was lost on the voices.

All remaining clauses of the Bill and the schedules were adopted without division, and the Bill was reported to the House.

The motion for the third reading was challenged by the Opposition and a division was taken without discussion, the Bill being passed by 36 votes to 16. The House rose at 6.20 p.m.