NEWS AND NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 250, 15 July 1908, Page 9

NEWS AND NOTES.

< Dr. Eindlay, in his speech in the. Council yesterday,- likened certain Labour spokes-, men, in their attitude towards tho Arbitrartion .Court, _ to tlie.son of, Erin, who, when: tokl. that his case would, lie tried by an impartial' judge, replied that!- ho would rather•nave a judge who would "laro a .lcetle." . ' "If tho lawyers, of-this country," says Dr. Findlay; "had' invested only in gilt-edged' securities, they- would bp happier: and bettor, off than, they are. _' For -my .own part, wliilo I liavo-'succeeded in my.-, profession, I Jiavo failed in" ray speculations'. A largo part of' what.'.'l have gained in my-profession' has gone for wages, in' industriesthat -did noc pay." . ■ ; Tho Labour Bills Committee has decided to commence the taking of evidence on tho Arbitration Bill on Friday next. Tho cvidenco so far as is possible will bo confined to tho now matter introduced in the measure,; the desiro boing to avoid a .repetition of tho great mass , of evidence taken last year in. regard to the.measure then introduced. . . . OLD AGE PENSIONS. INCREASE DURING YEAR. . GROSS PAYMENTS, £325,199. - The annual report of tho Old Ago Pensions ' Department, which was presented to tho House yesterday, states that, although an increase in the' number of pensioners is taking place, the, percentage of pensioners to the eligible population shows no upward tendency. . On March 31 last_ there was a total- of 13,569 pensioners, being an increase of 312 on the number at tho end of the previous year. . Tho number of new pensions granted' was 1740, and' there were 1189 deaths anjl 239 cancellations,' leaving a net increase of 312.. ' The number in excess of those oil the-roll on March 31, 1902, is 793. There are 657 Maori pensioners. I Of the total number of pensioners, 10,774 or 79 per cent, of the whole are .in receipt of tho. full pension of £26. - There are 1856 more male European pensioners than females. Thero were at tho . end of tho year 80 European pensioners at tho ago ,of 90 and over, of which eight wero 96 and over, whilst two had topped the century; a . pensioner it Russell is supposed to bo of the age 'of i 104, wliilo another at Otaki is believed* to bo 107. The total number of claims lodged since i fclio Act came into force up to 'March last ivas 33,598, of which number pensions had 30011 established in 25,617 cases. Tho gross payments by way of ]iensions i .ast year amounted to £325,199, being ap- I proximately £10,000 short of tho amount ' lppropriated for the purpose, and- £11,015 ■] n excess of tho gross amount disbursed ! luring the previous year. After deducting i G163, the -miount of over-payments re- ] 'unded, the net cost last year was £325,036. i rile cost of administration for tho year was s £5765.' ,- j The not value of property owned by pen- i lioncrs is £584,467. Of the persons to whom ; lew pensions were' granted last year, 790 i vero English, 364 Irish, 325 Scotch, 23 New ( Zealand born, 13 Welsh, and 80 Maori. Of•ho total number of malo pensioners now on r ;ho roll, thero are 3353 labourers, 1071 min- i svs, 463 farmers, 284 gardeners, 276 car- ; icnters, 240 gum diggers,and < 107- boot- v nakers. Tho females includo 5151 Whoso oc- \ mpation is returned as domestic duties; s vliilst• thero aro 158 nurses,-58'laundresses, I: il charwomen, 35 needlewomen, 28 dressmak- r srs, 17 cooks, and 13 washerwomen. v