THE MORATORIUM.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 October 1924, Page 1

THE MORATORIUM.

SECOND DISAGREEMENT

WELLINGTON, October 15

Tho Lender of tho Legislative Council (the Hon. Sir Francis Bell) moved in the Council to-day that tho Council should not agree with the report of the managers to the second conference of managers of both Houses respecting the moratorium, and that a message should he sent to the House informing it of the disagreement, and saying that the Council accepted the effect,-of the agreement, but considered that coitain details required definition in tho form of amendments as agreed to at the conference, and that the Council iequested a third conference. Sir Francis Bell said that this was an effort to arrive at an accurate definition of tho agreement arrived at. All he wanted to do was to see that the arrangement arrived at would not cause undue difficulty. The Hon. 0. Samuel, expressed the hope that the Leader of the Council would not press for the inclusion in tho motion of the quite unnecessary words, “The Council accepts the effect of the agreement.” The report of the second conference seemed to him in the last degree unsatisfactory. It seemed to him lo vary the law which lmd existed since 1914. By a clause in the agreement the mortgagee would bo practically precluded from going to the Court under any circumstances, notwithstanding that the lands were neglected or deserted, or that the interest was unpaid. The mortgagee would be precluded from exorcising bis power and endeavouring to get possession of tho. land and make it available for settlement, as well as to provide him with interest on which to live. He was to be hampered hy giving three months’ notice, and the notice was not to bo given till March 31st., 1925. A large number of mortgagees were not capitalists bul> men whose savings had been invested. He hoped nothing would ho done to take away the rights which had existed since 1914. lie hoped the Council would not tie the hands of the managers by including in tho resolution the words accepting the effect of the agreement. The Hon. Sir Francis Bell said Mr Samuel knew the traditions of Parliament, and those traditions required both Houses to he very careful as to what they did in any departure from agreements. Air Samuel had greatly exaggerated matters. The only time those concerned could not go to a Court was lictwceii this month and Marco. They had had the right for some years, and had not exorcised it, and now Mr Samuel said a gross injustice was being done. This was ludicrous. There could he no legislation if either House declined to meet in any way the views of the other House. lio did not thin! there was any harm in saving that they accepted the effect of the agreement hut that certain details needed attending to. lie thought it was unfortunate that a speech such as Mr Samuel had made should have come from the chairman of eomniilloes. Sir Francis Be I I'm motion was agreed to. IN THE HOUSE’. When the House of Representatives resumed at 7.30 to-night, it was agreed to appoint managers for a third conference with the Legislative Council on the Mortgages Final Extension Bill. The Minister of Customs stated that he believed that the amendments lo he discussed were of a technical nature, and the Attorney-General wished i" have them expressed in a particular Yvnv.