EVENING SITTING.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 11110, 31 October 1901, Page 6

EVENING SITTING.

The Council resumed. : THIRD READINGS. "Nineteen locud Bilk already dealt with by the House, paesed through Committee, ' end were read a third time tiud passed. PUBLIC WORKS. The Aia to Poblio Works and Land cettleownt Bill paswd ail stages after a short debate. OLD AGE PENSIONS. The Old Age Pensions Act Amendment Bill wae taken in Committee. On the MINISTER'S motion a sub-clause wee added giving the Deputy Registrar ■ power to hold a preliminary inquiry in eotmiction wrth &ny application for a pensionMr moved to add to clause 4 «, «uSb-clause providing that before ah application for ci pension or the renewal of ft pension is granted tlie Magistrate shall eatisfy himself that there is not in the colony any near relative as defined in section 2 of the Destitute Persons' Act, 1894, who is able to maintain or contribute towards the maintenance of the applicant, and that to the extent of such ascertained power to contribute the amount of the pension otherwise granted shall bo reduced. The MINISTER admitted that the principle was n reasonable one, and that chll-, dren im a position to support their parents ; should he compelled to. do so, . but the ! clnufe had been sprung on ■ him, and he i a&kwl time to consider. tho matter. The sub-elauser was. rejected by 12 votes to 9. and: the clause paesed. - Mr JONES gave notice to move the recommittal of the Bill to* insert a cJauee providing that* if a magistrate finds | that An applicant" tail any near relative in'the colotty able to wholly or partly* suppori; the applicant the mngistrate may accordingly refuse such application or grant a, reduced pension. TJk> Hill wae reported as amended. Tlie Council rope ab 12.26 a.m/ * '