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"POLITICS RATHER
THAN JUSTICE"
Victorian Association's
Charges
There are grounds for the sug- <*>
gestion that the Federal Govern- <*>
ment is at times Influencad more
by its political viewpoint than by
the preservation of justice, states
a circular to its members issued
by the Property Owners' Associa
tion of Victoria, and just received
in Adelaide.
The statement is made following
proceedings before tbe High Court
in which the court held that a
Ministerial order and regulation
were invalid, since they did not
provide for just terms" in assess
ing compensation for property
compulsorily acquired by the Army.
The association's circular asks:
—"Why should a taxpayer be put
to .he expense of proving that a
regulation is invalid? This case
is a further illustration of the de
sirability of obtaining skilled ad
vice in dealing with Government
departments, and not accepting is
conclusive the wording of Govern
ment regulations, wbich often do
not come within the ambit of the
legislation from which they pur
port to obtain their basic
authority."
The circular also claims that the
association has shown that the
control of the sale price of a pro
perty could not have any effect on
its rent, because'the formula in
the regulations governing the prin
ciple upon which rents are deter
mined does not include the tak
ing into account of the sale price
of the property.
"Divorced from that alleged
benefit." it continues, "there re
mains no other object of the con
trol of sale prices of real estate
than control for the sake of con
trol of capitalism. This control
should cease, and Aastralia should
fall into line with Britain, America
and Canada, which have all re
fused to consider applying it. Tbe
Federal Treasurer is reported to
have stated that high prices for
racehorses do not affect the
economic stability of the Common
wealth. Obviously, then, neither
would high prices for real estate.
The Treasurer's statement removes
any argument regarding inflation.
Why is there such an intense de
sire by the Federal Government to
penalise and restrict property
owner- but not the owners of race
horses or valuable pictures? There
can only be one answer, and tbe
association is investigating tbe
matter."
The circular deals with other
faults in regulations, as a result
of which, among other alleged in
justices, returned soldiers have
been unable to obtain re-posses
jsion of their own homes.
Canadian Loan Over-Subscribed.
— The Governor of the Bank of
Canada <Mr. Graham Towers! an
nounced on Monday tSiat the sixth
Victor-.* loan of $1.200000.000 had
bee. over-subscrfced by
520C.000.000. Private individuals
had" subscribed 5650.000.000, and
servicemen $45,000,000, of which
$12,000,000 came from overseas.—
AAF.
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