OVERHAUL URGED

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25021, 11 October 1944, Page 6

OVERHAUL URGED

wartime regulations

OPPOSITION SUGGESTIONS (S.R.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday The removal of obsolete wartime regulations, the joint scrutiny of war expenditure by both parties, and civil aviation matters, were the principal points discussed by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Holland, during the second reading debate on the Imprest Supply Bill, winch was introduced in the House of Representatives today. It was necessary that the position about the Government's legislative programme should be clarified, said Mr Holland, because there was a good deal of uneasiness throughout the country as to what the Government really had up its sleeve. There was a feeling that it intended to confront Parliament at the last possible minute of the present session with legislation held back so that success with the Victory Loan could be assured. The session was now in its 19th week from the start in February, but much remained to be discussed, including important reports before Parliament and still to come. Scrutinising War Expenditure

Furthermore, there was. a certain misgiving in the public mind about wasteful expenditure of money raised for war purposes. Mr Holland continued. Both sides of the Hons® were able to combine for the raising of the necessary money for war, so why should they not combine also for the proper expenditure of it? jVlr J. Thorn (Government —Thames): Another War Administration? Discussion had shown that it was not possible for the Opposition and the Government to work together on domestic issues, said Mr Holland. Both parties, however, had been able to work together for the prosecution of the war. If the Government was willing, the Opposition was prepared to "sit in" with it to try to work out a procedure to make the joint scrutiny and expenditure of war funds possible. That would ensure the success of future war loans. Dealing with wartime regulations, Mr Holland said that the time had arrived for their complete overhaul. Many imposed in the stress of war were now obsolete, and should be done away with. The Labour Government in Australia had set up a committee to review regulations. Minister's Trip Abroad The wartime regulations in many cases were being used for purposes hav, ing no relationship to military matters, Mr Holland added. The Minister of Labour, for instance, had issued an order under the War Emergency Act providing for the employment of temporary barmen. What had that got to do with war ? The Opposition welcomed the conferences on civil aviation taking place in Wellington, and to be held in Canada and the United States, said Mr Holland. Why was the Minister in charge of Civil Aviation. .Mr Jones, not chosen to go overseas? The decision to send the Minister of Supply was either a vote of no-confidence in the Minister properly in charge of civil aviation, or it was the turn of the Minister of Supply for a trip abroad. There was every reason why he should remain in the country at a time when a committee of the House was investigating the Supply Department. CIVIL AVIATION WELLINGTON CONFERENCE DOMINION AND AUSTRALIA (P.A.) WELLINGTON. Tuesday The Australian delegation which arrived in New Zealand yesterday to exchange views on civil aviation with the New Zealand Government met in conference with New Zealand representatives today and the conference will continue tomorrow. 'J'he Australian representatives are Mr A. S. Drakeford, Minister of Civil Aviation, Mr D. McVey, DirectorGeneral of Civil Aviation. Colonel W. R. Hodgson, Commonwealth secretary of External Affairs, and Mr F. R. Gullick. private secretary to Mr Drakeford. The New Zealand representatives are the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, the Minister of Finance, Mr Nash, the Minister of Supply, Mr .Sullivan, the Minister of Defence. Mr Jones. Air Commodore Nevill, Wing-Commander Buckeridge, and Mr F. Shanahan, Department of External Affairs. LAND SALES ACT ESTATE INSTITUTE COMMENT "Members have had 12 months' experience of the Land Sales Act, and we are glad to say that the predictions that business would be hampered to such an extent as to make it hardly worth while have not been fulfilled," states the report to be presented at the annual meeting of the Auckland branch of the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand on Friday. "It is true that there is delay in getting sales through, but the Land Sales Committee is getting into its stride and it is only in special cases that there is a real hold up," says the report. "The chief trouble experienced by members has been the shortage of properties, due to the paucity of building. Generally speaking, vendors prefer to hold on, instead of taking the gamble of acquiring other properties. "One-man farms have been in good demand with a fair turnover, but farms requiring labour to handle them have not been so much inquired for," says the report. "Members have been asked in the past to assist ex-servicemen to obtain homes. This still applies, as an increasing number of men are coming back to civil life and the best advice is due to them in their quest for farms or suburban nomes."

The report states that there have been several cases of persons carrying on business as land agents without holding licences. There are fewer cases of persons illegally carrying on business as land agents than in former years. The fact that all sales now have to go before land sajes committees gives some publicity to the agents concerned, and this is probably a deterring factor with law-breakers.

The report shows a decrease in membership during the last three vears. In 1941-42 it was 189, in 1942-43, 178, and in 1943-44, 171.