LABOUR VIEW

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 67, 16 September 1936, Page 16

LABOUR VIEW

CROWN TENANTS' POSITION

Mr. C. H. Burnett (Government, Tauranga) said that the Bill was really a type of bankruptcy legislation. Many farmers were unable to carry on, and the Bill had been evoked for the purpose of putting them back on their farms and rehabilitating them. When the moratorium was enacted a great mistake was made in excluding the banks and the big stock firms from it. People who were precluded from collecting their money were attacked by the banks and stock firms, and he considered that . no moratorium could be satisfactory unless it was comprehensive in scope.

Mr. Burnett said he believed the Crown tenant was more secure on his farm than the freehold farmer.

Mr. H. G. Dickie* (National, Palea) But he's got a mortgage.

Mr. Burnett: Yes, but he can't increase it and he-cant get an overdraft without the consent of the Land Board.

He added that it seemed that the farmer was not worrying very much now whether he got the freehold of his farm or not. The idea of the freehold had very largely gone—it was just a political cry in any case. The farmer on lease in perpetuity or renewable lease was just as well off as if he had got the freehold.

Mr. Burnett said that after he had been rehabilitated the farmer should not be allowed to encumber himself again unless he paid off his mortgage. Before the property was transferred to somebody else, provision should be made to ensure that the purchaser .was in a position to farm it. He was hoping that the Government would see its way to put back into the Bill a clause to prevent a man from 'dealing with his land until he had settled with his mortgagee. That would provent a farmer.from getting out with a profit and leaving his mortgagee lamenting.

The opinion 'thai there should be no limitation- on appeals was expressed by Mr. Burnett, who said that a man should be allowed to take an appeal

even to the Privy Council if he wanted to.

Regarding home mortgages he considered that some indication should be given to valuers as to what they should take into consideration in making decisions, and provision should be made to let home owners know what they would be charged for valuations.