MEMBER FOR WAIPAWA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 November 1940, Page 3

MEMBER FOR WAIPAWA

MAIDEN SPEECH IN HOUSE. CRITICISM OF SMALL FARMS BILL. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. “I urge upon the Minister the propriety of dropping the present measure (the Small Farms Amendment Bill), introducing an amendment to the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act. and not proceeding till the Returned Soldiers’ Association and all other interested parties have had leisure to give it the consideration such a measure deserves,” said Mr Harker (Opposition. Waipawa), during his maiden speech in the House of Representatives yesterday. “The Bill itself, is designed apparently to check the principle which its sponsors profess to support, that of increased production,” Mr Harker said. He claimed that the Government should operate the existing law, and if that did not produce enough land for. soldier settlement, then there was time to bring in new legislation. “Will the Minister accept the recommendations of the Returned Soldiers’ Association on this matter?” he asked. The Minister of Lands. Mr Langstone: “The Returned Soldiers' Association is in favour of it.” Mr Harker: “It is in favour of certain of its principles, but only when the right to freehold is given. The returned soldiers want that and the Minister well knows it. This cannot be effectively dealt with in an amendment to the Small Farms Act. They want a special Bill on which they could have every opportunity to be heard. Such a Bill should not be rushed through in the dying hours of any session.”