BIAS ALLEGED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23044, 23 May 1938, Page 11

BIAS ALLEGED

FARMERS' COMPLAINTS ADJUSTMENT COMMISSION ASSURANCE FROM MINISTER [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] CHMSTCHURCH. Saturday Several complaints from farmers against decisions of tho Mortgage Adjustment Commission have been received by the Minister of Mines, the Hon. P. C. Webb, during his visit to the Waitaki electorate and Central Otago. The complaint was general in each of the towns that he has visited so far, the allegation being made that political bias is being shown.

In reply to a question to-day, Mr Webb said that individual members of the com mission had not been questioned concerning their policies, as the Government did not desire to introduce politics into this important work. He added that appointments had been made by the Minister of Justice, the Hon. H. G. R. Mason, who had chosen members because of their qualifications.

Tho Minister said the first concern ol' the Government was that each case should be considered on its merits, and that the spirit of the legislation was given effect to. The public could rest assured that, as the Government had been responsible for the legislation, the Government would also see to it that the administration of the Act would follow the spirit in which it had been passed.

He would offer no opinion as to the justice or otherwise of the complaints which had been placed before him, said the Minister, and his only comment was that the people best able to judge must be those hearing the evidence.