SMALL LAND HOLDINGS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 428, 20 November 1930, Page 7

SMALL LAND HOLDINGS

BILL BEFORE THE HOUSE CONSERVATIVES’ CRITICISM “THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE.” I By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.] Received Nov. 19, 11.30 p.m. LONDON, Nov. 19. In the House of Commons, during a debate on the Government Agricul tural Land Utilisation Bill, Conservative opponents expressed the opinion that it was putting the cart before Unhorse to get people on to small holdings without first protecting the home market.

Hon. G. R. Lane Fox’, one of the sporting members of the House, described the Bill as “by Unemployment, out of Agricultural Depression.” He thought it would be better described as by “Ignorant Extravagance out o‘. Election Promises.”

Air Lloyd George said tho Bill was one after his own heart. The country was getting top heavy and was running into dangers by depending over much on foreign food supplies. Naturally money would have to be spent, but money spent on local food growing was equally a matter of security as was expenditure on the Army or Navy. The money would be lost, but the State had many ledgers. The Ministers of Health and Labour as well as the Trea sury, increased food production and an improvement in the ratio of rural to urban population, and a restoration of the countryside, would be worth the effort, even if it could not show a profit on the money invested. The Bill was read a second time by 297 votes to 21G.