SLOW PROGRESS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 49, 27 February 1935, Page 10

SLOW PROGRESS.

MORTGAGE BILL. ONE CLAUSE PASSED. ATTEMPT TO ALTER TITLE. MR. VEITCH'S ARGUMENTS. (By Telegraph.— Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. The first clause of the Mortgage Corporation of New Zealand Bill was adopted by the House of Representatives last night after an attempt by Mr. W. A. Veitch (Independent, Wanganui) to divide the House on the question of retaining the State Advances Department in a reorganised form had been frustrated by a ruling of the Chairman of Committees.

Mr. Veitch followed the unusual course of submitting an amendment designed to postpone tho second reading of the measure until next September, and then withdrawing that proposal in favour of another that the title of the Bill should be changed to that of '"State Advances Amendment." This amendment was ruled out of order, and the question of obtaining tho ruling of Mr. Speaker on the chairman's finding was sent to a division, the result toeing a decision by 37 votes to 26 not to call n Mr. Speaker. Voting with the Labour minority were the Independent members. There was a second division on the retention of the first clause, as drafted, and the Government held its ground by 38 votes to 25. Mr. Veitch, in moving to postpone the second reading of the bill until September next, eaid that Parliament would meet again in that month and by that time the Press, the public, the members and the farmers would have had time to consider the implications of the measure. The Hon. J. G. CWbbe: You want to postpone relief to Mr. Veitch: The Minister doesn't know -what I -want, and' I doubt whether he knows what he wants, but I don't blame Mm in the circumstances. He said the bill was a.panic measure which the Minister of Finance was endeavouring to push through the House. Members' mental outlook was one of panic, and yet the position could be met by a simple modification of the existing law. The Mortgage Corporation Bill was a reorganisation of the mortgage system of the country, and should not be embarked upon until the Government had put the issue before the people at the general election. There was- grave danger that future generations would have to carry an intolerable burden of taxation. "A Critical Stage." Subsequently Mr. Veitch withdrew his amendment in favour of another to provide that the title of the bill should be altered to "The State Advances Amendment Bill." He said he moved the amendment because he, and apparently a number of other members; felt that air that was necessary could be done by a very considerable modification of the present measure. If the title were altered the relevant amendments could then be made to the remainder of the bill.

"We have reached a critical stage in the political history of New Zealand," said Mr. Veitch. "The Minister comes along with a huge reorganisation scheme, and asks that members should vote for it because they were regarded as supporters of the Government- at the last election. No member can escape his duty to his constituents in that way, nor can the Prime Minister escape his responsibilities in the matter. This is a long way from the agreement reached between the two parties when they joined together. It is a very serious encroachment oji the rights of the people."