HON, A. L. HERDMAN.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14982, 1 June 1914, Page 3

HON, A. L. HERDMAN.

« DEPUTATIONS TO THE MINISTER. Several deputations waited upon tho Hon. A. I_ H-rdinan on Saturday morning Several remits adopted at tho recent Provincial Conference of the Farmers' Union woro brought under the notice of the Minister by a deputation consisting of Messrs C. H. Ensor, W. Bailey, and C. Benjamin.

Tho hrst matter was that concerning tho payment of indemnity insuranco by mortgagees. Tho Minister said ho would look into tho matter. He admitted it was annoying for mortgagees to have to pay for more than one insurance, and unnecessary hardship might be imposed- - ,' , Mr Ensor then mentioned tho matter of tho Cheviot railway service, and said an improvement was desired to enable farmers to attend the Wednesday sale at Addington without having to lo_e three days. - Tho Minister said he would look mto the matter. Mr Ensor put before the Minister a remit connected with tho valuation of l_ntl, and said that what was naked for was that a local valuer might bo aprjointed to act with the Government officer in order that a second valuation might-be arrived at. Mr Herdman said the proposal was an important ono, and he would place tho matter boforo tho Primo Minister. £1 RE PURCHASE AGREEMENTS. Mr Geo. T. Booth headed a deputation of implement makers regarding hire purchase agreements. Mr Booth said he noticed that the Official Assignee in Auckland had recently condemned tho biro purchase Tho matter was taken t") the Supreme Court, and it was decided that such agreements shonld be registered, and that the custbm of dealing with agricultural machinory on the hire purchase system was not sufficiently, notorious to establish the practice as a legal custom. Mr Booth pointed out that the custom was a widespread one, and was found to he of T;reat advantage to the farming classes, who were abloto bny their implements on easy terms. Thero were good reasons why tho practice should commend itself to the young struggling farmer. What the deputation wanted was to have an opportunity to place the whole facts before tho Minister boforo anything was done. Tho Minister said that no alteration in the law would bo mado without the question being considered carefully; certainly no alteration would be mado nest session.. He had received no recommendation from tho Crown Law Officers as yet, and in practice had never heard any special complaint made that tho law was working unfairly. & •rreat deal of weijht must be attached to the representations made by tho deputation, and it would require much evidence to convinco the Government that an alteration should bo made. The system must bo cf very great advantage to tho man who wanted to commence farming operations. He conld assure the deputation that the Government would not disturb tho practice without giving both sides an opportunity of expressing their opin- [ ions.