OLD AGE PENSIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 252, 25 October 1898, Page 2

OLD AGE PENSIONS.

FINALLY PASSED BY THE

COUNCIL

(By Telegraph —Parliamentary ReporteT.)

WELLINGTON, this day.

The Legislative Council devoted last night to the consideration of the Old Age Pensions Bill. The Hon. Mr Ormond at once challenged the Speaker's ruling that the measure, bein_- a money Bill, could not be amended in Committee, by moving "that- the Council, having affirmed the principle of an Old Age Pensions Bill, and it having been ruled that the Bil before the Council was a money bill, the Bill should be laid aside in order that it might be amended and brought before the Council in a form which wilkenable the Council to exercise its undoubted right, to consider and amend all the provisions in the Bill outside the appropriation clauses, which should be contained in a separate Bill.' This was discussed at some length by the opponents of the Bill, and eventually the amendment was defeated by 21 'to 13, the same division that carried the second reading of the Bill on Friday last. The Hon. Mr McLean moved that the Bill be passed through Committee in globo, which was agreed to, the hon. gentleman subsequently explaining that he had so moved as a protest against the Council being gagged. On the motion, for the third reading Mr Shrimski moved an amendment that the Bill be read a third time that day six moi'ths. The tnira reading was carried by 21 to 13, and the Council rose at 11 p.m.