HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 32, 8 February 1922, Page 8

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m.

The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. T. M. Wilford) asked the Prime Minister if he would carry out the recommendations of the Committee which investigated the position of dairy farmers. The Prime Minister said the ValuerGeneral had already investigated the position, and had brought together several mortgagors and mortgagees who were willing to negotiate. It was ■ not proposed to introduce legislation, for it would not be fair to tear up contracts. He had arranged for the Valuer-General, to again visit Waikato and Taranaki to help parties to come to agreements. If necessary, another officer' would be appointed to assist. Matters were improving, he was glad to see, for better prices were being given. Mi. J. M'Combs (Lyttelton) said the Committee had specially asked for protection for the faritfers in the matter of interest by way of postponement, at the discretion of the the mediator. Legislation would be necessary. The Prime Minister said he could not. promise to bring on legislation for this purpose. Mr. M'Oombs : "You protect the big companies quickly enough.": Mr. Massey: "There again is the politician—the unscrupulous politician." Mr. M'Combs: "It is no use getting angry." Mr. Massey explained that the general moratorium to which Mr. M'Combs had referred had been passed during the war to protect mortgagors from unscrupulous mortgagees. He could not promise more than he had in regard to the dairy farmers—the provision of a mediator. Mr. M'Combs: "Oh, I know, there are no big companies concerned." Mr. Massey retorted that it was apparent that Mr. M'Combs was trying to make political capital out of the hardships of the unfortunate farmers who had bought land at high prices. (Proceeding.)