PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 276, 27 November 1897, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

NOTES FROM THE GALLERY.

OLD AGE PENSIONS.

ANOTHER SCENE.

(By Telegraph.-Pariiamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Friday. In the House this f^^^^S ml THE LATE SCENE. iiStfii Chairman °\ d thafc a Minister in this was ™f c a o^d speak as long and yearSOLD AGE PENSIONS BILL. In Committee on this Bill on Clause 8 £114, was negatived by 3d to *'• The Premier proposed to strike out wds in Subsection I) so as to make it read "that his total income from all sources inclusive of his personal earnings and his pension) does not exceed £52 per annUm" ANOTHER SCENE. Mr Taylor of course commenced another stonewall, girding at the Premier in his characteristic style. The insufferable conceit of this young man in continually bringing his own name into prominence with that of the Premier as a means of earning political notoriety is a scandal to the older and more dignifiedpoktacansin the House To see Mr Taylor, who is a mere tyro in politics, but possesses a loquacity which is merely marvellous, and a self-con-fidence simply phenomenal, incessantly bobbing up in his place and presuming to dictate to men who were veterans in politics before he was breeched, is a melancholy spectacle, which shows how political life is being degraded by the advent of mere faddists and windbags. To-day Mr Taylor, in the course of a wild incoherent tirade, blurted out something about the' Premier having uttered " a falsehood." " I move that the words be taken down, said the Premier. " Withdraw ! withdraw!" came like an angry storm from all sides-of the House. _ " Oh, of course I withdraw them," said the member for Christchurch, in an offhand, nonchalant tone. It was a wonder the Chairman permitted him to escape in such a contemptuous way. After further discussion the Premier's amendment was agreed to. Mr Buchanan proposed to add a new proviso after subsection E, "That the near relatives of such person, as deiined by the Destitute Persons Act, 1894, are unable to support him." The Premier opposed the amendment on the ground that the means of support by relatives would be ineffectual.

Mr Crowther said the House Mas ;iot likely to get the Bill in the Statute Book by the constant exchange of personuliiies. lie thought they were raising bugbears in many of the objections put forward. He would not be a party to granting pensions to persons owning properties to the value of £500 or £600.

BUCHANAN AND HOGG-ANOTHER

BREEZE

During subsequent discussion Mr Buchanan fell foul of Mr Hogg, accusing him of uttering coarse personalities. "Why, sir," exclaimed Waimrapa, "his character is too well-known inside and outside the House to render it necessary to deal with it now," whereat Mr Hogg beamed unctuously at his assailant across the table.

When he got his chance to reply, the member for Masterton made desperate attempts to read a certain document showing how highly Mr Buchanan is esteemed by his constituents, which latter was, of course, "meant sarcastic," but the Chairman resolutely refused to allow him to read it, though Mr Hogg sorrowfully declared that Mr Guinness had thereby deprived the House of a treat.

ANOTHER PROVISO.

Mr Wright moved to add a further proviso to the effect that a near relative shall' not be called upon to relieve the State of the payment of a pension unless the said relative is possessed of an income not less than £150 a year, which was under discussion when the House adjourned at 5.30. At half-past seven o'clock the almost deserted galleries and the listless appearance of members were signs indicative of the calm that succeeded "the storm of the previous night. Mr Buchanan withdrew his amendment, and Mr Wason moved another amendment as follows :—" In the event of any child of the pensioner being in receipt of £300 or upwards the amount of pension shall be receivable by the Registrar from any such .child."

Mr Rolleston said the Bill was rapidly assuming the worst form of charitable aid. Mr Crowther said the amendment now proposed was already dealt with by charitable aid boards.

Mr Massey said he had no sympathy with socialistic rubbish, and he would resist any attempt to throw heavier burdens on the people. Captain Russell, in supporting the amendment, misquoted an old text thus : "He that will not eat, neither shall he work." (Laughter.) Of course, he meant it the other way about, but the fact that it was supplied to him by Mr Rolleston, the Petronius of politics, shows that even Homer sometimes nods. Mr Wilson referring to Marsden Thomson's opposition to the Bill, said, "You will know what side he is on when the Public Works Estimates come down." " Order," cried the Speaker. The amendment was lost on division by 41 to 16. PROPOSED ANNUITY SYSTEM. In reply to Captain Russell the Premier said every opportunity would be given to the country to discuss the annuity system before next session. Captain Russell desired the opportunity should be given in the present session, and he therefore moved that all persons on attaining the age of 20 years shall take up a deferred annuity of a sum not less in amount than £20, payable at or before the age of 65 years, in "equal quarterly payments on the Ist day of January, April, July, and October, and if the annuitant should die before the annuity commences, all payments shall be returned without interest to the widow, widower, or children of the deceased annuitant. When it has been proved to the satisfaction of the Commissioner of Life Insurance that the annuitant has four or more children lawfully begotten then living, the Colonial Treasurer may, on application made to him by the Commissioner of Life Insurance, pay out of the moneys to be hereafter provided for that purpose one moiety of the annual premiums on any deferred annuity not exceeding in amount the sum of £20, of either or both parents, provided that no such payment shall be made unless there shall be four children living and under the age of 16 years. He read a table of weekly contributions as

follows :-From ages 16 to 65 4A; 25 to 65, 7^d ; 30 to 65, 9fd ; 35 to 65, Is Id ; 50 to 65, Is s||d. , , _ 113 The Chairman ruled that Russell s motion had no bearing on the previous clause, and could only be moved as a new clause. It was therefore overruled. Further suggestions having been made as to other amendments in Clause 8, the Premier said consideration would be given to the wishes of members, but it would be a miracle if it could be made to please everybody. . The Committee decided on the motion for adoption of the whole clause as amended. Ayes 37, noes 19. . . 'On clause 9, amount of pension, Major Steward moved an amendment to make the clause read that the amount of pension shall be eighteen pounds per seventy-two pounds, diminished by one pound for every complete pound above thirty-four pounds exclusive of pension, which was agreed to. Clauses 10, 11, and 12 passed without amendment.

On clause 13, general rules for computing interest, Major Steward moved that the amount of exemption be £200. Mr Taylor declared the Bill would have to be re-committed and executed. Nothing awaited it but destruction.

Mr R. Thompson contended it would be inconsistent to exempt house property to the value of £200 while the same amount in the Bank would not be affected.

Mr Herries moved to strike out all exemptions. He did not think it would be fair to give a man a pension without £300 worth of property and a pound a week earnings. The motion was negatived. Mr Taylor asked how he was to go to the working men of his constituency earning 25s a week and tell them that they are to be taxed to provide pensions for persons possessing one thousand pounds in property. The Premier moved an amendment increasing the value of real and personal property to be exempt to £300, which was lost on division by 30 to 13. At midnight the Committee discussed a further amendment to make the value of property exempt £200. Mr R. Thompson- strongly protested against it on the ground that it would heavily handicap the small farmers in his district.

The amendment was lost by 25 to 21. A further amendment to insert £1,000 was carried by 27 to 19. Mr Tanner moved a proviso that in case a person has no income, but owns property of capital value not exceeding £200 exclusive of pension, this amount shall in noway be taken into account in lixing the pension. This was negatived on the voices. Clauses 13 and 14 were passed and progress was reported at 1.30 a.m. OLD SOLDIER CLAIMS. In the Council to-day, the Hon. Jenning's asked the Minister of Education whether the Government will take immediate steps to satisfy all claims under the Military and Naval Claims Act that have been recommended under Schedule 4in the appendix of journals of the House 1894, and recommendations having been made by responsible officers of the Government. He said he knew of four cases in which claimants had died after their claims had been recognised as just and legitimate. The Minister for Education replied that the Government were desirous of, as soon as possible, settling all claims that have been reported on by the Commissioner as entitled to consideration, but there would be some delay in regard to some of the claims, which would have to be sent Home to the army authorities for verification. The Government were thoroughly in earnest to have these longstanding claims settled as soon as possible.

MAJOR KEMP'S PETITION,

Yesterday, the Native Affairs Committee of the Legislative Council reported that it had no recommendation to make in the case of Major Kemp, asking that the evidence of certain native witnesses be printed. These witnesses had stated on oath that they gave false evidence before the Horowhenua Commissioner. The Hon. Mr ! .Bowen moved that the petition and evidence be printed. The Minister for Edu- < uation said,, as the evidence in question was given before the N.itive Appellate Court, it would be printed in the usual course. The Hon. Williams moved, as an fimendmeiii., "That the evidence also be referred to the Government, with the recommendation that the 'witnesses who, according to their own evidence on oath, had confessed that they had been guilty of perjury, should be punished as they deserve." On the Minister's, assurance the Hon. Mr Bowen withdrew his motion, and the amendment fell through. PETITIONS. The Goldfields Committee, on the petition of Simon Fraser, praying for a reward for discovering a new goldfield, report that they have no recommendation to make. On the petition of Hugh Cowan and others, R. Bell and others, William Cox and others, praying that the Mining Act, 1891, may be amended in order to relieve certain prospectors and others who have taken up claims on behalf of goldmining companies of the liabilities they have incurred thereby, aud of which liabilities : they were wholly ignorant at the time the claims were taken up, the Committee report that they have no recommendation to make. The Joint Statutes Revision Committee, upon the Coroners Bill, recommend that it be allowed to proceed without amendment. THE TUTANEKAI. A return to order of the House, on the motion of Mr Crowther, shows that the prime cost of the steamer Tutanekai, including wear and tear in the journey out, was £33,666; cost of coal, £908; wages, £1,063 ; all other expenses incurred prior to arrival in Wellington, £1,803; total, £37,434. JOTTINGS. The Hon. Bowen gave notice in the Legislative Council to-day to ask when the Government intends introducing a measure to deal with the Bank of New Zealand Officers Guarantee Fund. In the Council to-day, the following Bills passed through their final stages : Education Boards Election, Supreme Court Act Amendment, and Sunday Labour in Mines Prevention.