GUARANTEED PRICE

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 257, 28 July 1939, Page 10

GUARANTEED PRICE

Vote Of Farmers Urged By Mr. Barrell

POSITION OF PRODUCERS

“This Government is not shuffling ou the guaranteed price,” said Mr Barrell (Government, Hamilton), during the Address-in-Reply debate in the House of Representatives yesterday, when advocating a vote by the farmers oti tlic system. "The price should either stand or go out. Farmers’ Union leaders have said that it should be amended here or there, but I am for having it put plainly to the farmer in a simple question of whether he wants it or not.” Mr. Barrell, who claimed that the guaranteed price had stabilized and improved in every way Hie position of Hie farmer, said that hundreds of letters and telegrams had been received by members of Parliament since the Prime Minister's statement was made. All these messages asked for the protection of the guaranteed price to be continued. “It is time that this country took a vote to see just what the farmers think of the guaranteed price,” said Mr. Barrell. “Opposition members have condemned the scheme bell, book and can die, and have advocated a compensating price, though none of them knows what that means. If they are given the opportunity to express an opinion, I don’t believe that the farmers will agree with their own representatives in the House.’’ An excellent indication of what the guaranteed price bad done for the farmers, said Mr. Barrell, was contained in the figures for county rate collections. The collections gave a sure indication of whether the farmer was paying his way or not. Mr. Barrell then quoted the experiences of a number of counties to show that the collection of rates last year was considerably better than collections in the year before the Government took office. Percentages of rates outstanding, he said, were lower than they had ever been, and there was no getting away from the figures, which had been received direct from the counties concerned. The guaranteed price had done more for the stability ot the farmer than any other measure in the history of New Zealand, said Mr. Barrell, and those members who had criticized it bad had many questions to answer from their constituents during the last few days. “The system has improved the farmers’ position in every way,” lie said, “and there would have been no criticism of it at all if it bad not been made a matter of party politics.” Stability To Industry Claimed The claim that the guaranteed price scheme had given stability to the dairying industry and increased the incomes of the dairy-farmers was made by Mr. O'Brien (Government, 'Westland), during the Address-in-Reply debate in the House of Representatives last night. Opposition statements that the farmers were averse to the scheme, said Mr. O’Brien, were a distinct disservice to those engaged in dairying. Mr. O’Brien said a dairy farmer with 130 acres in his electorate had made a net profit last year of £1250. This farmer had 50 cows, and that profit was uot bad for the guaranteed price. Mr. Polson (Opposition, Stratford): Be is a miracle man. Mr. O’Brien: Miracle be hanged The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Hamilton: That is over £2O a cow. Mr. O'Brien: The profit from pigs alone was £250. LAND TRANSFERS Priority Of Mortgages RENEWAL OF LEASES Notice of his intention to introduce a Laud Transfer Amendment Bill was given in (lie House of Representatives yesterday by the Attorney-General, Mr. Mason.- The Bill is designed to simplify the procedure and reduce the costs involved in laud transfers. The Bill gives facilities for appropriate entries ou tiie register where the parties agree to give a subsequent mortgage priority over a previously existing mortgage. Under the present law this operation requires the discharge of the existing mortgage, the registration of the new mortgage, and the subsequent execution of the mortgage to secure the charge previously covered by the discharged mortgage This involves considerable work, consequent. registration fees, stamp duty, and legal costs. The new procedure will enable the register to lie changed giving effect to the rearrangement on the production of a simple memorandum signed by all parties concerned, thus saving considerable expense. Apart from its use in day-to-day exjierience, it is thought that this facility may have special usefulness in relation to proposals for the making of advances for the erection of buildings on farm lands that are subject to existing encumbrances. Another clause enables a lense to lie renewed by the signing and registration of a memorandum of extension instead of by the execution of a now lease as at present- required. A further clause enables an encumbrance registered against a lease 'o be brought forward against a new lease substituted for the old one without the necessity of executing a new mortgage. Other clauses relating to procedure are designed to facilitate removal from tiie register of entries which by changed circumstances or effluxion of time have become spent. PROPERTY LAW Mortgagees’ Powers Of Sale Tiie Property Law Amendment Bill, which was introduced and read a first time in the House of Representatives yesterday, provides that before exercising his powers of sale or entry into possession of mortgaged laud on default by a mortgagor, a mortgagee must give to tiie mortgagor at least one month's notice. During that interval the mortgagor has the opportunity of making good bis default. Tills, it is stilted, is not inconsistent with what usually takes place when default is made, but the Bill makes the practice obligatory. Several technical clauses feinting to mortgagees’ rights tire intended to secure that properties are sold to the best advantage when the power o£ sale is exercised.