URGENCY TAKEN

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 198, 21 August 1943, Page 4

URGENCY TAKEN

TERM OF THE ACT

GOVERNMENT AMENDMENTS?

(By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. "Until the bill goes through!" This was the answer the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, gave to the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Holland, in the House of Representatives yesterday when, urgency having been moved for the passing of the remaining stages of the Servicemen's Settlement and Lands Sales Bill, Mr. Holland inquired what time it was proposed to sit. Mr. Fraser added that the time to be taken depended upon the good sense, good judgment and the critical faculties of the House. The Prime Minister's motion was at once challenged, and within ten minutes of the opening of the sitting a division was taken and urgency agreed to by 41 votes to 19. Before the opening of the Committee stages, Government amendments were introduced by Governor's Message. It was explained by the Minister of Lands, Mr. Barclay, that thesa were along the lines he had indicated when he moved the second reading. The Minister said that native lands were definitely exempted from acquisition. Mr. Holland: Any exemption of returned soldiers' property?

The Minister: No. He added that part 3 of the bill relating to the control of sales and leases of land was not to apply to the exercise of any option granted before the commencement of the legislation. Publication Prohibited In another amendment the Land Sales Cotirt or Land Sales Committees were authorised to prohibit the publication of any report or description of proceedings. The pro--hibition, however, did not extend to the publication of the names and descriptions of the parties, particulars of the land" affected, the amount claimed or awarded as compensation, the amount of the purchase money, rent or other consideration applied for or granted. The Act was to operate for five years after the end of the war.

Mr. Holland: Is there nothing to provide for the owner of the farm you take being allowed to retain his own home?

The Minister: There is no danger of that, but there is nothing about it.

Other amendments introduced by the Government include one making it clear that a majority decision of the Land Sales Court must include that of the judge. A provision in the bill authorising land sales committees to obtain the opinion of expert valuers or others is struck out. It is also made clear that the compulsory acquisition of land for settlement of discharged servicemen applies only to farm land.

Position of One-Man Farms When the debate on the short title of the bill was resumed after the dinner adjournment, the Minister of Lands, Mr. Barclay, announced that a further Government amendment would remove any suggestion that power was sought to acquire one-man farms. The new provision would provide that no property be purchased compulsorily, unless it was capable of sub-division into economic holdings. This restriction, added the Minister, would not operate where a farm was offered by the owner for sale.

All the amendments were adopted in the course of the all-night sitting.