NEARING AN END

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 September 1939, Page 7

NEARING AN END

WORK OF PARLIAMENT FINANCIAL PROPOSALS AWAITED. DISCUSSION ON ’-SMALL FARMS BILL. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Before the adjournment of the House of Representatives yesterday, the Acting-Prime Minister (the Hon P. Fraser) said it was unlikely that the impending financial measures would be introduced before tomorrow. Most of yesterday’s sitting of the House was occupied in a discussion on the relative merits of freehold anc leasehold tenures of land. The debate took place on the Small Farms Amend ment Bill, which gives tenants undei the small farms scheme a 33-year lease, with, perpetual right of renewal in stead of a 10-year lease with a com pulsory purchasing clause as at pre sent. Little of any consequence now remains on the Order Paper for the consideration of members, and remain ing interest centres in the proposals tc *be introduced by the Government for financing New Zealand's war effort. Moving the second reading of the Small Farms Amendment Bill. the Minister of Lands, Mr Langstone, con tended that the Bill would give ten ants settled on small-farm holdings t greater measure of security than could be obtained by granting them a free hold tenure. His view was supported by other Government speakers. Ad vantages of the freehold were pointed out by members of the Opposition, whe referred to the desire of farmers tc own their own properties. They argued that the previous Government, which had established the small-farms plan had given the Tenants an undertaking that they woulcl have the option of the freehold but the Bill would deny then that right. Four new Bills were introduced. One confirmed and validated regulations made under the Agricultural (Emer gency Powers) Act since last session of Parliament, another provided fo“ the incorporation of the New Zealand Library Association, and the remaining two were the usual' “Washing-Up” Bills relating to Native Affairs and local body legislation.