PARLIAMENT

Wairarapa Daily Times, 16 September 1936, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

MORTGAGE PRUNING Formal business and tributes of reepect to two former legislators who died recently—Messrs JK. Mbore and F. H, Smith —were the only j matters dealt With at the afternoon sitting of the House of Representatives yesterday. The proceedings occupied half an hour, the House adjourning until the evening as a mark of respect. , Consideration of the Mortgagors and I.essees Rehabilitation Bill was resume&in the evening. Urgency was sought bjkhe Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage,'for the second reading stage of the Bill. This procedure was challenged by the Opposition, but the urgency motion was carried by 36 votes to 10. The first speaker was Mr R. A. Wright (Independent, Wellington Suburbs), who suggested that steps should be taken to make it illegal for people to enter into contracts for second mortgages. He was followed in the debate by .speakers from both sides of the House, including the Rt. Hon. J. G-. Coates (Opposition, Kaipara), who contended that the legislation was no improvement on that of the last Government. “TRIANGULAR PLAN.” A vigorous attack on what he termed “the Government’s triangular plan for farmers,” was delivered by the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates (Opposition, Kaipara). The one result of the Government ’s legislation, he said, would be the loss by the farmer of any equity in his land, so that he would be reduced to the position of a wage worker for the State.

Mr Coates said he had listened to Government speakers, who had put worst cas.e he had heard for a long time. It was impossible to reconcile the interests of farmer mortgagors and mortgagees. Mr J. Thorn (Government, Thames): You had a shot at that yourself. * “I am bound to say that this Bill is no improvement on past legislation,” said Mr Coates. “In the past there was provision for a 20 per cent equity. That is to be taken away. I would like any member of the Government to show me this Bill. The Prime Minister promised where a penny piece of equity exists in to restore equities. Either the Minister of Finance has let him down badly, or else he has gone back on the promises which he has made to the farming community.

“It is impossible to approach this Mortgage Bill as an isolated piece of legislation. It is part of the triangular plan for farmers. First, we had the guaranteed price, which is lower than the ruling market rate. The second leg of the triangle was the statutory miniiaaim wage for farm labourers, which fixed at a rate below the wage fixed for general labourers, and now we have the readjustment of mortgages. The mortgagor is to be allowed a reasonable standard of -comfort, but he will be left mortgaged 100 per cent.”

Mr Thorn: He is mortgaged 150 per cent at present. Mr Coates said it Avas true that the legislation in many respects Avas based ttlie Acts passed by the last Governfit.

Mr J. Christie (Government, WaipnAA'a): Why complain about it? Mr Coates: The lion, gentleman Avill get all the complaints he Avants Avhen he goes back to his OAvn constituency.”

LATE SITTING.

LINE OF EQUITY SOUGHT,

WELLINGTON, This Day,

Replying in the secofid reading de ; bate on the. Mortgagor and Lessees Rehabilitation Bill, at an early hour this morning, Hon. W. Nash said that the Bill was an effort to find a line of equity between mortgagor and mortgage He claimed that the provision of cent equity by the last Government was introduced only 27 days before the election, and was an election dodge. ... Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates: “That is not correct. The benefit of the 20 per cent equity in State mortgages was given right from the passing of the Bill.” Mr Nash said: “Provision had to be removed from the Bill, and if provision was made months earlier, why was the statement describing the provision not made till 27 days before the election.” Continuing, Mr Nash said that there would be a number of amendments to come down. He thought*that the Government would accept the suggestion that the date for appeal should be extended to 31st January. The second reading was then carried, and.the House rose at 1.30 a.m. LESSENING DISPUTES. “The industrial legislation of the present Government has effected radical changes in the relationship between workers and employers, and misunderS lings regarding interpretations bound to occur during the period ansition, ” said the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, when replying in the House of Representatives yesterday to an urgent question by Mr W. J. Broadfoot (Opposition, Waitomo). Information had been sought by Mr Broadfoot as to the steps the Prime Minister proposed to take to eliminate stop-work meetings which were occurring while disputes were the subject of negotiations between employers and employees. He asked Mr Savage to see what constitutional means for settling disputes were utilised in the future. Mr Savage said that considering the multiplicity of occupations and industries affected by the new industrial legislation, the Government took satisfaction in the fact that the new era had been entered upon with only a few minor disputes, and with no serious dislocation of industry. “The amendments made to the. Industrial Concilia-

«on and Arbitration Act, and to the actories Act,” said Mr Savage, “have Iprovided machinery for more rapid set- ' tlement of disputes by constitutional means than previously existed. The Government is watching the position

closely, and if, after making due allowance for the exceptional circumstances which prevail during the present period of readjustment, it appears that still further legislation is necessary to encourage settlements by constitutional means, consideration will be given to the steps necessary to achieve these.” An Opposition member: Hear, hear.