PROHIBITION SOUGHT

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 233, 29 June 1944, Page 4

PROHIBITION SOUGHT

Property And Share Sales To Aliens By unanimous resolution of the R.S.A. Dominion council conference in Wellington yesterday the Government is to be asked that all sales and leases of property to enemy aliens, and their acquisition of shares in limited liability companies, be prohibited. Mr. B. Malone (Te Awamutu) said that under existing law an alien couid not buy land that would be suitable for a soldier without the consent of the Solicitor-General. This meant no consent without very good reasons. Mr. K. C. Aekins (Auckland), concerning a remit from Auckland dealing with former sales of land to aliens, submitted that there was no insuperable difficulty with the passing of retrospective legislation. There should be a retrospective review by the Land Sales Court. , , The president, Mr. B. J. Jaeobs (Palmerston North), pointed out that since shortly after the war began, it was only by special licence of the Minister in Charge of Aliens, and inquiry and recommendation by departmental officers, that aliens could acquire land. There was no restriction oh aliens acquiring shares,' said Mr. W. E. Brown, ' (New Plymouth) on whose motion shares were included in the final resolution. He knew of a ease where an alien formed a company and gave his reason as being his need to take in a partner because he could not speak sufficient English to run the business. f