“A TALL ORDER”

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 2 October 1924, Page 5

“A TALL ORDER”

GISBORNE MEMBER’S QUESTION. POSITION OF MORTGAGEES. (By Telegraph.—Special to Star). WELLINGTON, Oct. 1. “Rather a tall order,” remarked Mr Massey when the member ror Gisborne liVlr W. i>. Bysnar) asked for a prompt answer to a long question seeking to ascertain whether the Government will take action in connection with trusts and combines, the formation of a mercantile shipping board, improved representation of stockowners on the Meat Board, the. establishment of an agricultural bank, adjustment of taxation so that the tax on mortgages would be less than on debentures, apd to establish a board for the eradication of blackberry. It was suggested by Mr Wilford that the question embodied a policy for the Government.

Mr Massey remarked that all these subjects had been seriously considered by the Government, which was out to protect people from all sorts of trusts and monopolies. He had already expressed his opinion. regarding the Mercantile Shipping Board. It was a complicated and difficult question, but if it was going |o< help producers Mr Lysnar (interrupting): We had it before a committee, but could not get duality.

Mr Massey: Very little was done except to express an opinion. Mr Lysnar: Approving of it. The Premier added that it would be ill right if every produee>r shipped his produce, but it meant that it went through the hands of the middlemen, who would have to be shareholders, and it meant an export tax, compared with which the present dues on meat, butter and cheese, were trifling. Such a subject couid not be dealt with without due consideration. He could not help feeling that the direct election of producers’ representatives on the Meat Export Control Board was a more democratic method, and he would confer with the Minister of Agriculture on the matter. As for agricultural banks, he had been reading a good deal about them, and it seems to be a very comprehensive term. If the people concerned had the capital they were welcome to start the bank. He intended submitting a Bill on this question during the session, and the House could express an opinion on the subject. If it meant it would take the form of a lending bank he was not going to raise any. objection to it. The adjustment of land and income tax had just been before the House, and taxation on mortgages had been brought closer to the tax on debentures. It was not exactly the same even now, and if the Government could do a. little more it would be satisfactory. The Government was losing'no opportunity of restoring confidence in investors in broad acres. , Mr Lysnar: Can you do anything this session in view of the end of the moratorium ? Mr Massey: The hon. member knows the position. We shall have to be very careful in handling the 'moratorium, or we shall lose the whole Bill. We have the best lending institution in the world in the State. Advances Department. The Premier announced that the Government is offering a reward not exceeding £IO,OOO for the discovery of a method of exterminating the blackberry oest which will not cost more than double the expense of cutting the plants down to the ground level.