HON. A. L. HERDMAN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16565, 1 June 1914, Page 4

HON. A. L. HERDMAN.

THE MINISTER IN CHRISTCHURCH.

SATURDAY'S DEPUTATIONS

The Hon A. L. Herdinan, Minister of Justice, who addressed a meeting at Amberley on Friday r-ight, was in Chris tchurch on Saturday. He left for Wellington in the ovening. FARMERS' COMPLAINTS. On Saturday Messrs C. H. Ensor, W. Bailey and C. Benjamin, represent] 115 tho Farmers' Union Continence, waitei on the Minister and submitted for his consideration several remits. The first was an objection to tho practice, by which mortgagees compelled farmers to pay indemnity insurance. In some cases, Mr Ensor said, a farmer who had a mortgage had to pay several different insurances. The Minister said that the annoyance of having to pay insurance more than onco caused pin-pricks, and in some cases the practice imposed unnecessary hardship. Ho would look into tho matter.

Mr Ensor said that it was wished that better train facilities should bo given on the Cheviot branch for attending the Addington markets on Wednesday. At present, three days were occupied in doing one day's work. The Minister said that the compfaint would be brought under the notice of tho Minister of Railways. Mr Ensor said that another remit was in regard to the methods of valuing land by the Government Valuers. It was suggested that a local resident should co-operate with each valuer in valuing properties. The Minister said that ho would bring the matter under the attention of the Prime Miuister.

HIRE PURCHASE CONTRACTS A deputation representing New Zealand manufacturers and sellers of agricultural machinery waited on the Minister in regard to a bv ilio Official Assignee in Auckland '.hat h're purchase contracts shouiJ bo dojlv. ed illegal, a request partly upheld by his Honor Mr Justice Coopsr. Mr G. T. Booth said that tho custom of making hire purchaso coin/acts was very popular. In one year, 22o'J orders on hire purchase "contracts wero taken in the Auckland district alone. The total in tho whole of New Zealand must be very great. Tho custom was popular amongst the farmers, especially young farmers, who were onabled by those contracts to carry on their operations with greater facility. It was true that there were legal objections, but is was honed that action would not be taken by the Governm .-rit until the had an opportunity to put their case fully before the. authorities. It was ffiini that the custom was advnntasr/iuiis 10 ,V.

The Minister said that the representations would bo considered. No recommendation had como from the Crown Law officer that the law should bo altered in the direction of loaning the contracts illegal. He agreed that tho -jstem must be an advantage to some farmers At any rate the Government would take no action before it gave both skies an opportunity to state the position.