LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1440, 5 October 1899, Page 47

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

THURSDAY; SEPTEMBER 28. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. ASSIGNMENT OF DEBTS. Hon J. RIGG. moved the committal of the Small Debts Assignment- Bill wliicli the Joint Statutes Revision Committee had twice recommenced should not be allowed to proceed.. The measure is very short, having but one operative clause, as follows : —‘’No debt of ten pounds or. under shad be recoverable by process of law by any assignee thereof either in his own name or in the name of the creditor: Provided, however, that nothing in this Act contained shall apply to debts vesting in the Official Assignee, -nor to debts assigned as part of and along with the other assets of an estate or business. Hon C. C. BOWEN, Chairman of the Statutes Revision Committee, explained "that no evidence had been forthcoming which could lead to the supposition that any injustice or hardship was being perpetrated under the present system. If the Bill were passed all that a. creditor Would have to do would be to issue a simple power of attorney £0 the collector and the same thing could be done as now. Except that it would create an inconvenience to certain persons the Bill would not alter the law in any way. That, at least, was the view taken by the committee. Hon G. McLEAN pointed out that Parliament had long been engaged in discussing measures designed to increase xvages but it was now asked to pass a Bill to enable persons to escape paying their just debts. Such legislation coulcl only nave a demoralising effect. Tie moved as an amendment that the Bill be committed six months hence. Hen J. RIGG, after an extended reference to the evidence given before the committee, m which the private affairs of cue person were gone into, said that men struggling against overwhelming difficulties were often persecuted by debt collecting c - ganisations. The Bill would not interfere with the recovery of debts; itwould merely prevent the assignment of debts, v hioh was an entirely different thing. •: • : Hen C. C. - BOWEN argued that if credit was to be allowed (and he ad', itted there was much to be said to the contrary) people should not he limited by lav/ as • o the methods of recovering debts unless seme great abuse were proved. Further legislation should not be passed because of one individual's grievances. Hon W. C. WALKER felt assured time the Bill was necessary to cope with a growing evil. HOll W. MONTGOMERY understood that the Bill would only prevent .11 yone selling -a. debt. It- would nob mv-rfere with assignment, for collection purposes. The amendment to commit: the Bill six months hence was then agreed to by 20 votes to 16. Hon J. E, JEN KINS ON moved a further amendment to what had now oecome the substantive motion “that the Bill be committed on Wednesday next. " Tin: voting ou tins was equal-—ayes Id, uo-.s 15. The Speaker, in order to permit further consideration,, gave his casting vote fot the amendment, which was subsequently agreed to on the voices. The Council rose at 4.30 p.m.