LAND SALES AMENDMENT

Chronicle (Levin), 13 September 1946, Page 4

LAND SALES AMENDMENT

FURTHER OPPOSITION CRITICISM WELLINGTON, Sept. 12. In the Ilouse of Representatives, Hon. C. P. Skinner, replying to the debate on the Servieemen's Settleinent and Land Saies Amendment Bill, said tliat it had been declared wrong for a purehaser to be refunded any part of excess eonsideration in property transaetions bnt there were eases wliere tlie pnri'haser was iniposed on and such instanees should receive eonsideration, He said the Bill sought t.o make it as diffieult as possible for illegal transactions to oceur and if "pimping" were the correct term to use when a purehaser sought redress, then he would : fcpim-p" every time. .; .. .» ' Mr.-W." J. Polson (Stratford) wheir the Bill- reached, the eomraittee stage, described the clause dealing with the reeoverv of excess eonsideration as ''a prostitution of justice. " He said that -there should be no protection at any time for an informer. The clause was "a piece of legislative trickery which put a premium on dishonesty" and was '•'a blot on the Statute Book." Arr. J. T. Watts (Riccarton) said he liad not a great deal of confidence that the amendment before the House would aehieve the purpose the Minister had in rnind of curbing illegal transactions in property but it might have some effect. Kir. W. S. Goosman (Waikato) joined Mr. Polson in a protest against the Bill. "We have come to a pretty pass," lie said, "when we make laws that will reward one of the wrongdoers. ' ' Hon. W. E. Parry: Wliat would you suggest" doing? Mr. W. A. Bodkin: Punish them both. Mr. Goosman said sometliing was wrong with Parliament when it found itself passing a law which reward ed oue of two parties to an infringement of tlie law. >. i MU , Tlie Bill was passed.