LAND POLICY

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24050, 22 August 1941, Page 9

LAND POLICY

I LABOUR'S METHODS jl more attacks made (i . I WASTEFUL EXPENDITURE H ,'S.R.) . .WELLINGTON. Thursday g 'The riaiional development that lias i taken place under this Government i has been both wasteful and extravaI gant. »nd t-ha> cost huge sums I to tiring under cultivation has hardly I worth cultivating at all alter the 1 money has heeu -pent," said Mr. W. I J. Poison (Opposition—Stratford), in I the Hou-e Representatives to-day I during the -ecoud reading deliato on I tlic National Development Loans Bill. | '"Now Zealand '.as heoti pngaji«»tl on tj public works m heme- since tin- time of IS Vogel',' Mr, Poison continued. "There I jt a difference. however, between tho I methnd> oi pie \ 11ins Governments and I the present Admiui-tration. Jn the I pan- there ua- ,-oine attempt to con- ! - serve the people's money." Charges not Answered Mr. I'ol-on said tho .Minister of Labour, the Hon. I' t. Webb, had not. I • answered one charge made last night | by Mr. \V. .1. Umadfoot (Opposition—i AVaitonio). regarding land settlement, although t he "charge- were so grave that many a Government would have been thrown out il such charges had been ■ proved. The acting-Prime Minister, the Hon. W. Na-h. -aid that it he could obtain the records oi Mr. Broadloot's speech and the figure- quoted he would answer jfllj the charge-. '•Taxation if wartime for peacetime development i- an outrage."' Mr. Poison continued "I: i- against all com-iiiniisen-e. Now liere ha- it. been more extravagant than in ; lie Government's land settlement policy." Inquiry Commission Advocated

Mr. Poison nuiMdiTcd that a commission 01 inquiry should be .set. up so that the country and the House could be told what the Government's land settlement policy was costing the taxpayers* ••J hope that in future land settlement "ill he carried nut on the best classes oi land, ot \\ hi< h large areas are available at pre-ent." said Mr. 10. 1,.

Cullen (Government. — Hawke's Bay). Hp added that rr was useless to estab- | lidi settlers on poor land, and he con- | fide red that some of the iir<t-cla>s land j available should be purchased for the 1 settlement of returning soldiers. New Efficiency Needed

"Grave charges have been made against the Government's administration. and so far- we have had two speakers, including" one .Minister, from the Government side, who have made no attempt to answer these charges," said Mr. W. S. Goosman (Opposition— Wnikato), who also criticised aspects of the Government's land policy. He said the report of the Lands and Survey Department did not reveal the true position in regard to land under development. and it was practically impossible to get the real picture. '■' Are.these reports made to reveal or tn conceal;'"' he asked. 'T nless a report is understandable it is waste of time and paper to issue it." Mr. Goosman said that the new name rational development was not enough. What was needed was a new efficiency, a new sense of responsibility, loss talk, fewer figures, and not less wages for •the men but better value for the money spent. • TENSE SCENE CHARGE BY MR. BODKIN WITHDRAWAL OF STATEMENT (S.R.) WELLINGTON, Thursday A tense scene was witnessed in the House to-night when Mr. \Y. A. Bodkin (Opposition —Central Otago) made, charges against the Government in its administration of the land development policy. "A serious charge that can be made against the Government is carelessness itt the expenditure of public money, but more serious is the presentation of false accounts," Mr. Bodkin said n'aen opening ' his speech on the National Development Loans Bill. The acting-Prime .Minister, the Hon. \Y. Nash, raised the question whether Mr. Bodkin was right in alleging the presentation of false accounts. He sugzested that the least Mr. Bodkin could do was to make an unqualified withdrawal of his statement.

Mr. Bodkin: 1 withdraw the statement. What 1 have said is The acting-Speaker, Mr. R. McKeen: The honourable member must Diake an unqualified withdrawal. Mr. Bodkin: I have. sir. I have intiidrawn without fiualification. Mr. Bodkin said he proposed to show discrepancies in tiie report of the Lands and Survey Department for the fear ended Mflrch 31, 19-11, and the official return to the House giving the position up to December. 1939. Comparing tlie figures for nine blocks he jsked that the Auditor-General should bp asked to make an explanation of the discrepancy. The figures purporting to give the total figures to last showed an expenditure of £495/>65 less than the total expenditure given h tiie official returns presented to the House, infinitely more information was given in tlie'returns than in the official report. The report suggested that there had been a writing down in capital. ' Mr. Bodkin said the responsibility Bid not rest with the present Minister, tvho had taken over after the official report had been prepared. Ihe re-poli-ability was with the Cabinet. He had tried to ascertain what the reason was for the discrepancy. Before the House adjourned Mr. Nash stated that there was a discrepancy between the return mentioned and the departmental report. Some subsidies had been included twice and he suggested that both the return J 1 !. die report should be sent to the Public Accounts Committee tor investigation »nd a report to the House. The House agreed to this course. WANGANUIHARBOUR RATING REAPPEARANCE OF THE BILL IS.TU 'WELLINGTON, Thursday The Wanganui Harbour District and Empowering Amendment Bill, which had been referred back to the Local Bills Committee alter meeting strong opposition in the House oi Representatives last week, came before the House again io-dav. The chairman of the committee: Mr. -J. W. Mmn'o (Government —-Duntfdin North), reported that the committee, having caretully reconsidered the,bill and taken additional evidence, recommended that it should be allowed to proceed without amendment.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL [BY TM.MJUAHI—PRKSS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON. Thursday Tii" Legislative Council mot this afternoon and the Counties lii'-uiaiue Kinpcvoriiiii Hiil wns road a first t Tilt' -from] reading of the I'inance l>nl Vas Unixf r d hv the' Leader ol the ( oiinci!. tin* Hon! D. Wilson, who detailed the clause.-. The council adjourned until to-morrow.