HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 10150, 24 September 1898, Page 8

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

AFTERNOON SITTING. The House met at 2.30 p.m. r RETURNS ORDERED. Returns on the following subjects were ordered: —Momohaki experimental farm, recipients of pensions as holders of the New Zealand Cross, voucher for £146 paid to the Secretary of the Premier, and the amounts paid to each hospital in the colony, including for voluntary contributions, payments for maintenance of patients and contributions by the Government. QUESTIONS. Ministers, in reply to questions stated that—With regard to the granting of totalisator licenses, to racing clubs which license bookmakers, matters were being watched carefully.—A small quantity of seeds of the Florida velvet bean were to be procured and tested at the Government experimental farms.—lf members had changed their minds as to compensation to publicans whose licenses had been taken from them, they would have an opportunity of altering the existing law when Mr Miller's Li.cjusing Act Amendment Bill was before the House.— The Government contemplated following the trend of Imperial legislation as to the abolishing of cbmpulsory vaccination, but considered that the House should have an opportunity of discussing .the matter, whicn opportunity would be given next session.— The Government, would give every assistance in connection with the establishment of a Royal Humane Society in the colony. —The work entailed by the free telegraphing of weather and shipping telegrams had grown to be considerable. The number of operators had had to be increased, and the wires were at present practically unable to do the work. Mr BUCHANAN moved the adjournment of the House, and various subjects dealt

with in the answers to question* were discussv.l ;:t considerable length. Tiie motion wa:, neg.Uivad. PUBLIC WORKS AND LAND f HFMEXT. The Aid to Public Works and Land Settlemenl A.t Amendment Bill, providing for the r.iisins of £175,000 loi the construction of railways, £200,000 for-railway rolling stork and*£l2s.ooo for tht> purchase of lands for settlement, was introduced, and read a first linie. 'J lie HoiLse ndjouraed at 5.30 p.m.

EVENING SITTING,

The House resumed at 7.30. O.'.D 'AGE PENSIONS. The OU A-e Pension!" Bill was furtkei ConMdf.t'o 1 iv Committee. CJ;i:i<e 8. ncve.s-,;irv qualifications. >Ir WAX'JX moved to strike out the proviso; tii't mi applicant should be voiding* in til loiotiy on the d;tf.e when he establish- . ,;•; i-liiiiii to a pension. He considered thin i.,.vision w;is unnecessary, as the cl.nti.M.- iihiiirJiutfly previous contained a hiinil"! i l ' .vi-.-in. Oilmi-: voi''M.idcd that if the provision were deleted, it voidd be possible to grant a |H-n>i"!i ti. iihs.-Mtees. Tiie position of tailo;*. -hi-u-i;- .ni other minatory workers WV s !,:>!.■'] to. and Mr SEDDON 'inti-iii;it..-'i iii'i h..-_w<.uld look into the matter wilii ■• *'•"' "• m;«king provision for such Cii-v--. Ti.e -i.»;-iidi.>• -til w,is withdrawn. A )en_'lhv ensued on the amend-rnf-nt .imposed by Mi Buchanan to strike j out th.- word "twenly'* from the provision that before a person shall be entitled to a pension he lnti.-t h;<.\e resided continuously in the colony foi twenty years. An amendm-.'iit by Si. LANG that the word Von'iio], nsh-*' lie struck out was negatived by 'in votes to 20. Mr TAYLOR contended that Ithe term should be twenty-live years, and Mr LETH HRWGE moved in thiß direction.

After discussion, this was agreed to by 37 votes to 25. Mr if CORK moved to amend the definition of "continuous re&idencfl" by sub-rti-tuting "two years" for "eighteen months" as the aveiage period in which a person could be absent irom tho colony without breaking continuous residence.

After discussion, this was agreed to by 30 votes to 26, and on the motion of Mr J. HUrCHKSON the following provision was inserted —"That continuous residence, shall not be interrupted in case of a seaman by absence from the colonj whilst serving on board a vessel registered in and trading to the colony if he establishes the fact that, during such absence, his family or Home wero in the colonyy" Mr ROLLKSTON moved an amendment in the direction of making the pension payable as supplementary to those receiring benefits from friendly societies. Mr RUSSELL suggested that tho claise should bo postponed until clauses could be framed providing for a contributory system of pensions or annuities.

Mr SEDDON objected to this question being raised at this stage ot the lilt-, as there wero fitty members in the House opposed to an annuity scheme. A/tcr a lengthy discussion, and at 1.20 »,m., Mr KELLY moved that progress be reported. This was negatived by 29 votes to 27. Mr Rolleston's amendment was under consideration when the telegraph office flosed at 2 a.m.