PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 183, 5 August 1925, Page 8

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

NOTIES FROM THE GALLERY. <By Telegraph.—Parliamentary ■ Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. Whangairei Empowering Bill. Mr. A. J. Murdoch (Marsden) has introduced the Whangarei Harbour Board Empowering Bill, which is for the purpose of enabling the board to borrow £ 100,000 and levy rates to secure repayment thereof and interest thereon, interest not to exceed 6J per cent. Old Age Pensions. Mr. Sullivan (Avon) gave notice to the Minister in charge of pensions today that he would ask whether the Government will this session amend the Pensions Act to provide that, in cases . where old age pensions are being drawn for the first time, the previous year's earnings shall not cotint against the pensioner in the computation of what the pension shall be? Under the existing law, said Mr. Sullivan, if a pensioner, during the last year of hie working life, earns full wages, the pensioner is practically entitled to nothing at all unless a magistrate exercises, discretionary power in the pensioner's favour by exempting up to £2 a week of the previous year's earnings, in which case the pensioner may claim a pittance of £10 for the first year. Names Asked For. In the House of Representatives this afternoon Mr. Holland gave notice to ask for a return to be furnished supplying further particulars in regard to the alfegation contained in the report of the Auditor-General, to the effect that an officer of one of the Departments, who had been interested in a certain firm, had, in collusion with that firm, defrauded the Government in the matter of the supply of goods. Mr. Holland asked that the names of the officer and firm concerned be included in the return, also an explanation as to why no prosecution had been instituted.