HOUSE DEBATES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 August 1941, Page 4

HOUSE DEBATES

NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LOANS BILL

LAND SETTLEMENT FINANCE. ALLEGATIONS AND REPLY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. After a few minutes of formal business when the House of Representatives met yesterday afternoon, the rest of .the day was occupied on the continuation of the second reading debate on the National Development Loans Bill. Practically the whole of the discussion centred on the Government's land policy, which was the subject of a sustained Opposition attack.

Particular emphasis was laid by Opposition speakers on the cost of subsidised schemes for small farm development. Allegations of waste and extravagance were replied to by the Government members, including the Minister of Agriculture. The member for Central Otago, Mr Bodkin, strongly criticised the accounts of nine land developments blocks, and compared the official return presented to the House and the figures contained in the Lands Department report for last year. He said that the discrepancy was so great that anyone in his sober senses could see that something was wrong.

The Acting-Prime Minister, Mr Nash, said there was a complete explanation and he would give it when he replied to the debate. The debate was interrupted when the adjournment was taken at 10.30 a.m. Today the House is continuing consideration of the Estimates.