POLITICAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 September 1919, Page 5

POLITICAL.

MORTGAGES EXTENSION. By Wire,—Own Correspondent.' Wellington, Last Night The Mortgages Extension Bill, whfch was introduced in the Legislative Council/ oy the Attorney-General (Sir Francis cell) to-day, follows the- line* that have been indicated by the Minister recently. Ihe provisions of the present mortgage* extension law me continued until Deoember 31, 1020, with a few modificaturns. A mortgagee is still prevented from culling in his money and from doing the other things enumerated in tho original Act, except l.y consent of the Supreme Court. The chief amendment is the addition of a provision that, in' considering applications, the Supreme Court may take into consideration the ability of the mortgagor to pay a reasonably increased rate of interest in consideration of the continuance of the mortgage, and may also consider the hardship which would be inflicted on the mortgagee by continuance There is no provision for mortgages falling in on a sliding scale, as has been suggested in the House. The Bill evidently carries out the intention expressed by the At-torney-General recently of extending the moratorium generally, s0 as to give mortgagors an opportunity and notice to make their own arrangements. THE GOVEttNOR-GENKRAL'S SIGXATUBE. ' The Official Appointments Bill, which was read a second tim e in the Legislative Council to-day, is intended to lift a certain amount of routine work from the Governor-General. Sir Francis Bell explained that at present the GovernorGeneral is required to perform some Of the duties of a rubber atamp. If a country policeman is appointed Mgiatrar of deaths, or if an acclimatisation society gets a new ranger, the GovernorGeneral must attach hia signature to a document about which, he cannot be expected to have any knowledge.