ABOVE THE CHAIR

Bruce Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 3097, 8 September 1899, Page 8

ABOVE THE CHAIR

(Br Autolycus.) On Tuesday the 'Legislative Council which is rapidly proving that a second Chamber is a useless /expense to the * colony, sat tialf-an-hour and retired to sleep for the rest of the day. In the Lower House, Mr G. Hutchison with malice aforethought gave notice of the Bull's Bridge Bill. The Bill was simply the bridge which the • astute act ember for Patea used for j the purpose of getting at the member | for Rangitikei. On being asked on all sides to explain the provisions of the Bill, Mr Hutchison proceeded to gravely point out that its object was to provide for the erection of a bridge over the Rangitikei Kiver on the old Bite, instead of on a new site, which, it ■was alleged, the ratepayers had only consented to accept under pressure. The battle of the sites led to considerable discussion, both sides of the House taking a hand. Some of the speakers on the Government side protested against the interference of Mr Hutchison with another hon. member's district. To this answer was made that Mr Stevens was a party to the " job " of planting the bridge where it had been placed, so that it was unlikely that he would bring the question up. It therefore remained with someone to " bell the cat," and. as Patea is the adjoining electorate, the task naturally fell to Mr Hutchison. Frequently members were called to order for irrelevancy, and, among others, Mr Hogg was severely rebuked for trifling -with the Chair. In replying, Mr Hutchison said that he had been charged by speakers on the Government side with poaching on the preserves of the member for Manawatu in whose district the Bull's bridge was situated. He denied that he was a mere delegate, but was a representative in Parliament, and as the whole question o£ local Government was affected he had not exceeded his duty. On the question that the Bill be read a first time Mr Stevens called for a division, and the motion was rejected by 25 to 22. # * * * At night the Old Age Pension Act Amendment Bill came on the boards, and Mr Pirani and others promptly stonewalled the measure, which amends the law so far as it refers to aliens obtaining pensions. Member after member got up and offered suggestions as to improvements which might be made in the Act. Mr Seddon asked members to put their proposals in writing, and the Government would give them consideration when bringing down ai 1 amending Bill next session. Finding this course not pleasing to members, he said he thought the clause of the Act relating to absence might be amended so as to allow a person to be three years absent from the colony, provided that he had twenty-five years' residence to his credit, exclusive of the period of absence. This proposition was followed by a flood of suggestions. Mr Pirani pointed out that six months' desertion on the part of a husband made him ineligible tor a pension, though there might be justification for the desertion. Mr G. Hutchison contended that the present measure was merely an amending Bill in one respect, and was an evasion of the duty of the House — viz , to remove anomalies which had been found to exist in last year's Act. Mr Wason poured forth all the bitterness of his nature in condemning the Old Age Pension Act, which he called a ridiculous measure for doling out a miserable pittance, and urged that the only amendment possible was to make pensions universal and tv restrict them to British subjects in place of bringing naturalised subjects under its provisions. He moved that the chairman do leave the chair. The Premier up to this had preserved a sphynx-like silence in reply to questions, but he now jumped up and stated that he little expected when the present measure was introduced by Governor's Message that a second reading debate would have sprung up. It dealt with the most important amendment required in the Act. Earlier in the day he had promised to have an amendment introduced by further Message allowing all those who had taken tbe oath of allegiance on joining the militia, and who had fought the battles of their country and had bled for their country, to draw pensions, even though they were not naturalised. He pleaded with those who thought that other anomalies existed in the Act to grant the small measure of relief now proposed. " From information received," as Uie pdieeican was wont to 9ay ? .he feared bringing in a general

amending Bill, as it would leaii to endless discussion in committee. Hour after hour the stonewall wens on, sometimes very sultry language /being I used by members. At 1 a.m. the Premier, taking the floor, said he was hot prepared to let the question go to a division without retaliation on those who had been the means of wasting so many hours. No more disgraceful episode had been seen in the present Parliament than the action of Mr Wason and others on his side of the House than in denying justice to some 300 or 400 deserving colonists. The secret of the opposition of certain members to this Bill was their love of greed and fear of the extra taxation that might be wrung from them. After what had taken place that night, and with the other legislation awaiting their consideration, he despaired of getting this Bill through this session. At 4.30 a.m. on Wednesday morning the Bill was allowed to be introduced and read a first time. # * * * On Wednesday the gilded unemployed once more had "that tired feeling," and after sitting half-an-hour gave up work and went to sleep till next day. On the same day, in the Lower I louse, the question of appointing a chief librarian for the Parliamentary Library came up for consideration on the recommendation of the Joint Library Committee that he ought to be appointed at a salary of £400 per annum. It is as well to remember that for quite a number of years Mr James has filled the position at a small salary. He has apparently carried out his duties well, otherwise he Ehould not have been allowed to retain the position. It is not morally fair that he should be put in the back ground after so many years. It is also utterly ridiculous to expect that a better man will take the billet at £400 a year. Mr M'JS T ab, who is a New Zealander, and evidently believes that his country was not made solely for exploitation by Englishmen, moved that the report be referred back to the committee with a recommendation that an effort be made to secure the services of a librarian in the colony before applying to England. Ultimately, the matter was referred back to the Joint Committee for further consideration. During the evening the House went into committee on the Loan Bill.