AGRICULTURAL BANK

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16927, 16 April 1929, Page 8

AGRICULTURAL BANK

WEST AUSTRALIAN MEASURE MEL-BOURNE, April 4. Progress is being made by the .State Government in the preparation of a Bill to provide for the establishment of an agricultural bank. It will embody many of the features of the West Australian institution, and will be conducted as a separate State activity. The suggestion of the Taxpayers' Association that it should be administered by the Savings Bank Commissioners will not be adopted by the Government. For one reason, it was this provision which virtually wrecked the 'Labor Government's Rural Bank Bill, The present Government will probably decide that the bank should be conducted by three director*, one of whom should be a financial, expert and the other two well versed in laud matters and administration. It is not improbable that the directors may be drawn from the higher grades of the public, service. Mr. B. Gray,. who recently visited West Australia, was greatly impressed with the institution there. He stated yesterday that he hoped the Government would carry out its original intention to send a small delegation to that State, not to investigate so much the actual administration of the bank, but its splendid effect on the fanning community. Settlers everywhere spoke appreciatively of the sympathetic consideration given to them. The best evidence of this was that there were practically no arrears owing by settlers. District inspectors instead of branches expedited financial assistance to the settlers.