MAJOR OPERATION

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 229, 27 September 1929, Page 3

MAJOR OPERATION

LAND TAX LEGISLATION. AGAINST AGGREGATION EVIL DEBATE UNFINISHED. PREMIER STRIKES DIFFICULTY. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. "The real fight against land aggregation in the interests of the landless farmer and his sons, who have been vainly pleading with the previous Government to give them an opportunity to make a living on the land, begins with this Taxation Bill," said the Minister of Labour, the Hon. W. A. Veitch, in the House last night.

"Criticism has been levelled, but there is only one fault to be found, and it is that the Prime Minister has been too cautious. This evil of land aggregation is no skin disease; rather it is a cancer, eating into the very vitals of this country, and it requires a major operation. The surgeon who will' perform that operation is skilled and courageous, but he is also merciful. He will do his job with as little blood-letting as possible." The Right Hon. J. G. Coates: Yes, with plenty of dope. (Laughter.) With the intention of getting through the second reading stages of the Taxation Bill before yesterday's _ sitting closed, Sir Joseph Ward moved just before the usual adjournment time that urgency be accorded the measures. He was faced with a ruling from the chair that such a motion had to be made at the commencement of the debate, not during the debate. Sotto voce, Sir Joseph Ward asked Mr. Veitch, who was addressing the House, to wind up his speech, but as this did not seem a likely way of ending, the long discussion, he asked Mr. Speaker how to get over the difficulty. The Reform Opposition laughed loudly, one member shouting, "Apply the hardship clause" while Mr. Coates, remembering a phrase in the Prime Minister's speech, advised him to petition Parliament.

"I am afraid I cannot help the right hon. gentleman except by taking the pleasure of the House,' 1 said Speaker, and when he did so Reform objections prevented the suspension of the time limit. Consequently the debate entered .on its third day this morning.