AMENDMENT LOST

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 197, 20 August 1943, Page 2

AMENDMENT LOST

OPPOSITION'S MOVE REASONS FOR POSTPONEMENT (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this clay. The Opposition amendment -to the Servicemen's Settlement and Land Sales Bill, urging postponement of the measure until after the election, which was moved in the House of Representatives early this morning and lost on the division, was as follows: "While affirming the principle of rehabilitating servicemen on the land on generous terms and recognising the need for stabilisation of land values, this House considers the present bill should be postponed until after the general election for the following reasons— "(1) That it is undesirable to pass legislation affecting long-established principles of land tenure both in country and town by a Parliament which will complete its term of office in seven days' time. "(2) That already anomalies have been revealed, a*s indicated by the Government's announcement that several far-reaching amendments are to be introduced. "(3) That the provisions of the bill need more careful scrutiny than can be given in the time available. "(4) That the provisions for determining the value of properties to be taken or acquired are inadequate and likely to cause hardship and even operate unfavourably to servicemen. "(5) That the provisions of part 3 of the bill go beyond what is necessary to procure suitable land for servicemen, and can work most inequitably against owners of land and houses, including servicemen- themselves, both of this war and the last war. "(6).' That land is already available in the hands of the Government for the settlement of returned servicemen, and other lands could be secured if a comprehensive survey were made, and that therefore there is no immediate urgency for the passing of the bill this session. "(7) That there is ample provision in the existing laws, including the Lands for Settlement Act, the Small Farms Act and the Public Works Act, for acquiring at fair prices, by negotiation or by compulsion, of land for the settlement of servicemen. "(8) So that a measure more nearly meeting the wishes of the servicemen themselves, as expressed by their recognised organisation, the R.S.A., may be worked out."