MORTGAGORS’ RELIEF

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 35, 4 November 1933, Page 9

MORTGAGORS’ RELIEF

Action of Commissioners REQUEST FROM MINISTER Dominion Special Service. Palmerston North, November 3. It seems that the members of the Mortgagors’ Relief Commission, who have returned to their homes, and, in effect, are “on strike,” were desirous of going further than they have gone, by resigning, but it is understood that the Minister of Justice (Hon. J. G. Cobbe) has asked them to withhold any such action in the meanitme. Members of the commission are Messrs. 11. Mclntyre (Feilding), chairman, A. McDonald (Masterton), and K. W. Dalrymple (Bulls), who were appointed to office in February, 1932 At various times their work has been commended by Supreme Court Judges, the last occasion in Palmerston being at the session of the court in May, when the Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers) expressed appreciation of the services they had rendered from time to time. But seemingly the members of the commission .have not quite the same appreciation of the way the courts are administering the Act. The function of the commission is to hear evidence from mortgagor and mortgagee, and then make recommendations to the court, which alone is vested with power to rearrange interest rates and cancel arrears, and. from the court’s decision there is no appeal, though renewed application for relief can be made after a short Interval. The recommendations of the commission are not always adopted, and it is quite possible that the commission takes up the view that it is wasting its time if the court does not abide by recommendations made. QUESTION IN HOUSE Reply to Mr. H. Atmore Tlie question was raised iu the House of Representatives yesterday, when Mr. H. Atmore (Ind., Nelson) asked whether it wits true that the Wellington Country Adjustment Commission had postponed the consideration of all cases, and whether a representative of the board approached the Government asking that the appeal to the Judge should be abolished, so as to leave sole power in the hands of the board. “So far as I know the Wellington board is functioning at the present time. I am not aware that it lias ceased operations,” replied the Minister of Justice, Hon. J. G. Cobbe.