HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 54, 12 September 1928, Page 13

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The House of .Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. The-Methodist Theological College Edson Trust Extension Bill wag passed. Mr. J. M'Combs (Lyttelton) asked the Primo Minister if it was the intention of the Government to proceed with the Licensing Bill to-moirow, or this week. Mr. Coates replied: "It is on tho cards that tho Bill may be proceeded with this week, but not earlier than to-morrow." (Laughter.) ..., PIG SUBSIDY. Mi\"J. G. Eliott (Oroua) asked the Minister of Agriculture -whether it was proposed to distribute the pig subsidy this season in tho same manner as it was distributed last season, and if any alteration was to be made, would the Minister give an indication of the man* ncr in which the subsidy would be dis« tributed. The Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. O. J. Hawken) said the question. of distributing the subsidy was at pre-

selit under consideration, and as soon at any .definite arrangement was made he would'-let Mr. Eliott know. PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE. On the report of the Public Trust Office being presented, Mr. J. A. Leo (Auckland East) said that the institution was playing no mean part in the development of the country. As far as private mortgages were concerned it was doing more for the primary industries than any other institution. It was beyond criticism as an example of State Socialism and had withstood the blight of Toryism. In election year it would be a mistake' not to discuss the Public Trust Office, seeing that shortly much would be heard against Socialism. The office granted terms much more advantageous than those given by the private mortgagee. Th» average period of flat mortgages was about five years. He wondered where outside the State Advances Office and. the Public Trust the farmer could secure accommodation on a 30-year table. He thought it would be found that tho Common Fund was paying as much to beneficiaries as they were entitled to receive. The Public Trust Office ad* vaneed £1,250,000 on, mortgage se» curity last year and two-thirds of the amount .was on table mortgage. It was also advancing money on table mortgage to the farming community; for 25-year, and in some instances 30« year terms. A point to be remembered was that even if defalcations took place from the Public Trust funds, no estate lost a penny piece because the office had the security of the State be« hind it. That was not likely to happen in the case of private legal firms, although he was not saying that the officials in the Public Trust Offico were any move honest or dishonest than any-; body elso.^ : (Proceeding.)