DAY IN PARLIAMENT.

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 70, 20 September 1939, Page 8

DAY IN PARLIAMENT.

DISCUSSION ON SMALL

FARMS

In the absence of the pending legislation dealing with the Government's proposals for financing its war effort, the House of Representatives yesterday marked time in its best manner, and devoted its energies and attention to a set and serious discussion about the Small Farms Amendment Bill, a measure of minor importance and comparatively limited in its application. The Bill contains six clauses, and its main purpose is to establish the principle of leasehold tenure in respect of small farms, abolishing the provision in the main Act. requiring compulsory purchase at the end of ten years. It opened up the whole question of land settlement, production, labour, and so on. and there were few speakers during the second reading stages who did not claim their full hslf-hour. In one or two cases extensions of time were granted. It is not expected that the legislation which everyone is waiting for will be ready until towards the end of the week, drafting difficulties, among other things, causing delay. The effect of this may extend the session into next week.