LITTLE PROGRESS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 70, 23 March 1935, Page 11

LITTLE PROGRESS.

FARM DEBTS BILL. AMENDMENTS NOT READY. DEBATE CONTINUED. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. The whole of yesterday afternoon was spent by the House of Representatives in discussing the short title of the Rural Mortgagors' Final Adjustment Bill. The arguments advanced during the second reading debate were reproduced in full, but it was evident that the Government had no desire to curtail the flow or discussion, because of the fact that the amendments which it is proposed to make to the 20 per cent equity section of the bill are not yet readv.

At 5.30 p.m. progress was reported on the short title, and the House adjourned until Tuesday. The budgetary system, and the allowance that is to bo allowed to the farmer, occupied a large part of the discussion, members of the Opposition and the Independents condemning the system and Government members supporting it, and asserting that the farmers would be better off under it. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Savage, said that if the bill would help the farmers ho would vote for it, but the farmers would derive no benefit from it.

Soldier Settlers. Mr. A. M. Samuel (Independent, Thames) suggested that in assessing the basic value of a returned soldier's farm the physical condition of the farmer Ehould be taken into consideration. He understood that the Returned Soldiers' Association was considering an endeavour to secure some safeguard for the soldier on the land who might be cracking up as a result of war service. Mr. J. A. Lee (Labour, Grey Lynn) said that if amendments were to be moved that .would make the bill suitable to farmers the amendments would have to be greater than the remaining part of the bill.

Before the session ends the Government will introduce legislation authorising local bodies with respect to the ten per cent penalty on unpaid Tates and grant concessions on the same lines as formerly regarding rates for the year 1934-35.