MORATORIUM CHANGES.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 303, 21 December 1921, Page 15

MORATORIUM CHANGES.

SIR FKAXCIS BELL GAUBTIC. (By Telegriph.—Own Correspondent.) :U. I . ■.WBLLIMGTOX, Tuesday. The tongue of the Leader of the legislative Council seemed to be well in fcis dheek vhen he '-with all humility" ibowed to criticism •riven to the Mortgages and Deposits Extension Bill. He ■was moving the second reading of TSill in tlii? Legislative Council, and .Tentnreti the opinion that senile decay 'las' uad its effect since 1919, when he •Jiad drafted tlie last bill. "I do not jrant the Government to have to bear aoy odium in a matter in which I am "personally co responsible," he said, "and i, with all humility, bow to the criticism - that has been so freely lavished by men far more expert than myself, I linderstand. to deal with such matters. .Bat iet there be no mistake about this. The Government is no more convinced thin its Attorney-General that its pro,posals were not far better than these proposals. In the bill now before the Council the proposals will fairy meet Die position, although they will not (meet the objections made to previous legislation. I have felt it an immense compliment that those who objected to bill of IU2I had nothing >better to ;*all back on than the Act of 1919. Xo to the Act of 1919 haa been proposed except those drafted and suggested by myself. Those who wero so competent to criticise do not appear so competent to suggest alternatives." Sir Francis explained that the bill must .Jiecestarily pass before December 31, and he did not think lie should abject to accepting what was a fair and reasonable method of dealing with the matter because of any personal consideration.