HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13888, 12 November 1910, Page 11

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Friday, November 11. AFTERNOON SITTING. The House met at 2.30 p.m. w 1 1\ eless teleg a a phy . Implying to Mr Wilford, the PRIME MINISTER stntod that tenders had been invited for the erection of four wireless telegraph stations in the Dominion. These had not yet been received. He hoped that these stations would be operating within twelve months. LOANS 'BILL. The, .second reading of the New Zealand Loans Act Amendment Hill was moved by Sir JOSEPH AVARD, and agreed to after a short discussion. OLD AGE PENSIONS. The second reading of the Old Age Pensions Act Amendment Bill was moved by the PROLE MINISTER, who said the main feature of the Hill was to allow of a pensioner having £o accumulated .savings, in addition to a home and furniture to the value of £310. The Act, so far as it related to married couples was amended so as to provide that no greater deduction in respect of property than £3-10 shall be made. This would result in increased pensions being payable to married couples. The extra cost involved in the amendments to the Act for the last two years was £26,000.

Mr MASSEY said the Bill was mainly designed to remedy a mistake made in the Act of hist year, which has in many instances actually reduced pensions instead of increasing them, as intended. He trusted that the passing of the Bill would remove the complaints against the old age pensions law.

Mr T. ¥.. TAYIX>R expressed tho opinion that the Bill would remedy existing evil«j and he trusted that the Hill would give satisfaction to a large number of old age pensioners.

The second reading was agreed to. The House rose at 5.30 p.m. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. LICENSING BILL. The Licensing Bill was put through its final stages. OLD AGE PENSIONS. The Old Age Pensions Act Amendment Bill passed its final stages. LOCAL BILLS. On the suggestion of Sir JOSEPH WARD, it was decided that the Houso should meet at 10 a.m. on Saturday forth c purpose of dealing with local J3ills, numbering twenty-five. The House then rose.