All-Night Sitting Finalises Land Settlement Bill

Northern Advocate, 21 August 1943, Page 2

All-Night Sitting Finalises Land Settlement Bill

< p.A.i WELLINGTON. This Day. A number ol‘ amendments to the Fi-rvieemen's Settlement and Land Sales Bill, the second reading ol which was carried yesterday morning, were introduced by Governor-Gener- ; l’c; Message in the House of Representatvos yesterday afternoon.

The Minister for Lands (Mr Barciay) stated that, with one exception, they were amendments that he had indicated would be brought (.town in iho course of his second reading : peceh. The first amendment makes it clear that the majority decision of the Lands Sales Court must include that of the Judge. A sub-clause authorising the Lands Sales Committees to obtain the opinion of expert valuers or others is struck out of the. Bill.

Another amendment makes it clear that the section relating to acquisition of land for settlement of discharged servicemen applies only to farm land N; tive land is to be exempted from the provisions of the Bill. The new clause states that legislation is to continue in force until the expiration of five years after the present war. Urgency Accorded After the introduction of the amendments Mr Fraser moved for urgency for the passing ol' the Bill and indicated that the House would go right through until the Bill was passed. The Opposition called for a division on the motion for urgency and the motion was carried by 41 votes to 19.

Opening the debate on the short title the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Holland) said that the Opposition knew that the Government, by weight of numbers, could put the measure on the Statute Book no matter what the Opposition did. so they did not propose to obstruct it.

Mr Fraser said the Government had asked for suggestions for improvement of the measure and, earlier in the day. he had received a deputation from the Farmers’ Union. The deputation had put forward certain suggest ions, some of which appeared to him ro be very drastic and. in some respects, revolutionary. They were pm forward as the best they could produce at short notice and they required some working' out and they were being closely examined. The Gcvermnent was willing to look at any improvements. Mr Fraser added that he thought the position of the R.S.A. should be mrcte clear. A message had been received by Mr Barclay from the vic-e-Diesidenl of the association (Mr C. O. Belli stating that the association approved entirely with the principle of Tlie Bill but they suggested two separate bills, for control of sales and soldier settlement.

Mr Fraser said there was no opposition to the principle but only the methods : nd if the methods could be improved the Government would give full co-operation. The Minister for Finance (Mr Nash) again referred to the incipient land boom and said that a land agent had told him that the position had been developing gradually for the last If) months.

Mr Holland said that official figures showed that the average price of land had decreased in the past year. The debate was continuing at the tea adjournment.

IJcidgc, Hamilton Attacked When the House resumed ,at 7.30 the lebate on the short liilo continued, nit-nihi rs of (he Opposition talking on familiar lines. The ivhiiisier tor I .and:: i VJr. Bare-lay j ’aid that I a sat i.-.l'y those who suggested Oiat small farms might be taken by the •Jovi-rmrienl. an amendment would lac mtruduced providing that, no property would be taken unless ii was capable ol übdivision. Mr. A. Hamilton (Oppn., Wallace) asked why the Government did not apply to farm lands the same valuation method that was being applied to urban lands. Mr. F. W. Do id go (Oppn.. Tauranga) discussed the right of the farmer 1o the freehold and was followed by the Prime Minister, who said that Mr. Doidge had mine to New Zealand from Lord Bcaverurc.ok to smash New Zealand industry. He. was the enemy of progress. Mr. J. A. Roy (Oppn.. Clutha): Is not the member for Tauranga a returned soldier? Mr Fraser: I don’t know. Mr. Roy: You know till right. Other Opposition members interjected and rite chairman of committees (Mr. McKeeni rose and asked Mr. Fraser to keen to the Bill. Mr. Fraser said Ihat the member for Wallace could have been of some help, but he had just talked with animated prejudice which was not understandable. An Opposition member: A rift in the !u le. Mr. Fraser went on lo describe the clause dealing with the method of valuing land and commented that they had boon five hours on the short title. ' which, he taid, was an unprecedented thing in .(cent rears. Mr. Holland said he could not under- ■ land the Prime Minister when he referred to Mr. Hamilton’s constructive criticism as t-iimatcd prejudice. No one in the Mouse knew more of land values than Mr. Hamilton, who had made a valuable .•imh'ibntion to the debate. Mr. Fraser said he certainly withdrew his comment regarding the member for Tan rang a and added Hint llu: member for Wallace’s speech had been most helpful.