MINERS' WIDOWS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 261, 3 November 1932, Page 5

MINERS' WIDOWS.

PAYMENT OF PENSION. A REPORT "REFERRED BACK." .FURTHER CONSIDERATION WANTED. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. .There was an unexpectedly long and at times confusing discussion in the House yesterday on the report of the Goklfield and Mines Committee on the petition of W. C. E. George 'and 100 others for the continued payment of the miiiere' widows' pension. The committee had reported that it had no recommendation to make, as legislation had been introduced to meet cases of hardship. The spectacle of some members of the committee appealing to the chairman, Mr. W. A. Bodkin, to accept a proposal to refer the report back for further consideration was provided when statements were made by Messre. H, E. Holland and A. M. Samuel, both Of whom said the question had not been disposed of during their attendance at the committee meeting. A motion by Mr. M. J. Savage (Labour, Auckland West), that the report be "referred back," as it was not the report of the full committee, was not accepted by Mr. Bodkin, who, in indicating that he preferred to leave the question to the House, said that as far as he knew there was a full meeting when Ihe petition, the last of three matters to be dealt with, had been considered. A Member's Rights. Inquiries as to who had presented the petition brought Mr. D. S. Reid (Government, Raglan) to his feet with the statement that while he had presented the petition (which came from Huntly) ho had made it clear that he could give no promise to support it, except in 60 far as it affected cases of distress. Before the committee he had eaid that he took no notice of what his constituents told him and that he would not support a proposition which he did not believe He did not believe in giving pensions to all miners' widows when there were others just as much entitled to the allowances. .'

Mr. J. A. Lee (Labour, Grey Lynn) said he was astounded at Mr. Reids attitude. Although he might not have agreed with the prayer, the least he could have done was to ensure that nis constituente received a hearing. It appeared as though they nad been executed without trial. Supporting the plea that the report be referred back to the committee, Mr. K J. Stallworthy (Government, Eden) said it would be most unfortunate if petitioners were forced to the conclusion that their petitions did not receive adequate consideration. Mr. A. J. Murdoch, chief Government Whip, said it could be taken that the petitioners had received a fair hearing, and it was no fault of Mr. Reid that the report had been returned in ite present form. The fault lay with the members who were present. Full Attendance. Mr. Bodkin insisted that no business had been transacted at the meeting until there was a full attendance. He remembered Mr. Holland asking to be excused, and also Mr. McSkimming. Mr. W. J. Jordan (Labour, Manukau) said Mr. Reid was not the representative of himself, but the representative of Raglan, and his duty was to present the views of his constituente and not his own. "A new doctrine, commented Mr. A. D. McLeod (Government, Wairarapa). "No thoughts of our own!" The attitude of Mr. Reid was defended by Mr. H. S. S. Kyle (Government, Riccarton), who said the discussion had developed from a domestic wrangle into an attempt to castigate the member for Raglan. Mr. H. G. Dickie (Government, Patea): It is propaganda. Mr. Kyle said that Mr. Reid had seen that his constituents received a fair hearing, and had been perfectly justified in his attitude. After further discussion, the report was referred back to the committee. With respect to the petition of M. A. Verrall, asking for a miner's widow's 1 pension, the committee recommended that, as petitioner's husband was suffering from miners' phthisis at the time of death, the Government should defray the cost of the funeral expenses.