DELAY URGED

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 270, 10 August 1943, Page 6

DELAY URGED

Real Estate Institute Of New Zealand

In view of the drastic provisions of the Servicemen’s Settlement and Land Sales Bill, the Real Institute qf New Zealand has asked the Minister of Lands to defer consideration of the Bill by Parliament till next session so that pro-perty-owners and the general public may become conversant with the proposals. “While the institute is aware of some of the difficulties facing the Government and is prepared to assist where possible, it does not consider the Bill as submitted will achieve the object for which it purports to be drawn, namely, the settlement of returning servicemen on reason-ably-priced farm lands and homes,” states the institute in a letter to the Minister. “It feels the Bill will create a feeling of insecurity, a definite prospect of grave injustice, and a loss of freedom of action to all property owners. “As the Bill is at present drawn no owner of freehold farm, dwelling-house, ■business premises, city property, seaside house, vacant section, or industrial area, can dispose of his property without permission from a court to be appointed by the Government itseif, and at a price to be determined by a committee of three persons also appointed by the Government itself, and further, no person will be allowed to lease premises for more than three years without the consent of the said court. In view of these serious restrictions the institute considers time should be given to acquaint property owners of' the position as well as to give the institute the opportunity of making alternative proposals. “For the above reasons the institute must ask the Government to not unduly hasten the passing of the Bill.”

SHEEPOWNERS’ VIEWS Strong Opposition To Bill

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) ' CHRISTCHURCH. August !). The executive of the New Zealand Sheepowners’ Federation, in a statement, says it is strongly opposed to the Servicemen’s Settlement and Land Sales Bill, ns drafted, though it supports tho principles of providing for a sound basis of settlement of those returned soldiers wishing to take up land. While fully supporting this principle, the executive is of the opinion that, the Rill has been framed with a total disregard of the facts to be faced in administration.

"The Bill, if made law in its present form, will make it. possible for a Irilmiml with Gestapo powers of investigation and decision to assess the sale value of the property of one section of the commtinilv only, while leaving the owners of other forms of property free to dispose of their

business or other assets exempt from similar restrictions,” the statement adds. “It would appear that public. sentiment with regard to the need to provide for the successful settlement of our returned men is being used to promote the Government’s policy of the nationalization of all land, aimed at extending the principle of Government fixation of price not only of products from the land, but also of the land itself. The clauses in the Bill dealing with the fixation of basic values, basic rents and productive values, can have no other than a speculative foundation, there being no sound basis for calculation under today’s conditions.”

The statement adds that what may possibly seriously affect landholders under the proposals suggested in the Bill is the possible effect on farm mortgages, and on the inflow of capital for investment on broad acres, previously considered by great numbers of people as being the soundest form of investment. Should finance for tins purpose be seriously disturbed, the repercussions on propertyholders and financial institutions also may prove serious indeed.