FARMS FOR SOLDIERS

Grey River Argus, 7 December 1940, Page 4

FARMS FOR SOLDIERS

ATTEMPT TO KILL BILL By Farmers’ Union Heads GOVERNOR-GENERAL REJECTS REQUEST. [Per Press Association] WELLINGTON, December 5. The following letter, signed by the Dominion Secretary of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, was sent to Lord Galway on Wednesday: “I am instructed by the Dominion Executive of the New Zealand Farmers Union, assembled in Wellington today, to convey to you a formal request that you withhold the Royal Assent from the measure known as the Small Farms Amendment Bill, recently passed by Parliament. The Farmers’ Union feels that the measure referred to should not become law because of the following grave objections to it:—(1) The measure has roused such deep feeling amongst the farming community' by a principle which it offends that, in the interests of national harmony, and in view of the undesirability causing unrest among farmers at a time when all their energies should be devoted to that production which the Empire so urgently requires, we respectfully suggest that the measure be postponed at least until the end of the war. (2) It is opposed to the principles of justice, which have been so long accepted and sworn by usage into the constitution as now to be a part of the constitution of any British community. It is accepted that courts dealing with large amounts of money claims and with important principles shall not be subject to control of the Executive. The Prime Minister himself said, in his closing speech in the debate on the Bill that, if any injustice occurred, he would undertake to alter the method. We respectfully point out that it does not rest, and should not test, with toe Executive-; or ‘any member of it, to decide whether a Court of Justice is doing justice, especially when the Crown itself is j a party to all proceedings before the Court. The importance of this principle cannot be over-emphasised. , (3) A second fundamental of British justice which the Act offends is that no person shall be a judge in his own cause. This principle is equally as well worn into our constitution as the principle that the Courts shall not be subject to the control of the Executive. It is also obvious that the Farmers’ Union is not alone in its objections to these departunes from established principles of British justice and from established judicial principles. I cannot over-emphasise the grave view my organisation, which represents a great majority of tjre farmers of New Zealand, takes of the violation of the principles referred to above. It is only because of great disquiet caused in the minds of the farming community that we have taken ims step of approaching you, and asking that you withhold your signature to the measure." ’ •

The following reply was received to-day from the Governor-General’s Official Secretary, Mr D. E. Fouhy: “With reference to your letter of 4th. December in which you conveyed a formal request from the Dominion Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, that the GovernorGeneral should withhold the Royal Assent from the measure known as the Small Farms Amendment Bill, recently passed by Parliament, I am directed by His Excellency to say that he has given the matter his most careful consideration, and has discussed the question with his Prime Minister; but, that as the Bill has been passed by both Houses of the Legislature, and, moreover, as the Governor-General is advised that no justification can be seen, either from a constitutional or any other point of view, for withholding the Royal Assent in this instance. His Excellency regrets that he is unable to accede to the wishes of your Dominion Executive.’’