NEWS AND NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 318, 3 October 1908, Page 7

NEWS AND NOTES.

arbitration bill. Tho Attorney-General stated yesterday afternoon that tho Arbitration Bill would almost certainly be taken by the Council in Committeo on Monday. Tho Labour Bills Committeo has had several sittings on the Bill, but witnesses have not been invited to givo evidence. OLD ACE PENSIONS. In the early, hours yesterday morning amendments were made to the Old Ago Pensions Act Amendment Bill. The Primo Minister moved a new clause providing that when an applicant could show that his earnings had ceased, tho magistrate might, in assessing the pension, deduct from tho income for tho year such earnings up to £2 a week. This, he said, would ensure that a pensioner lyould not feci tho pinch bdeauso he had earned a, little during ono year and could not continue to earn it. Tho clauso was adopted. The Primo Minister added another clauso to the effect that tho pension of an inmato of\a mental hospital should be payable to tho superintendent.

Committee dwelt for some time over the clause prescribing suspension of the certificate for drunkenness. The Prime Minister pointed out that under tho old law pensions were cancelled. Now they would be suspended. for twelve months. The Bill (as already stated) was reported. OLD SOLDIERS. The " old Maori War soldier " was brought before tho House again yesterdav. The claims of veterans to medals or grants, of lands is being continually raised in "the House. The matter was introduced yesterday by the submission of a report from the Petitions Committee, and several members spoke on tho subject. ' Sir Joseph Ward said in alj five commissions had been set up, and he showed that everything had been done to do justice, some of the commissions having sat over twelve months. In view of theso commissions it was remarkable that claims still came along. They- had come in batches as soon as tho commissions .had.- completed their labours. To have finality "to these claims tho Government was prepared to do something to investigate present-day claims. (Hear, hear.) The best way to do this would bo considered. He did not favour another commission. When they had decided the legitimate claims, appropriations of some kind would be made. But what was done must bo final. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Ngata hoped that whatever wasdone tho claims' of Native allies would not bo overlooked. PRESBYTERIAN CHAPLAINS. On September 16 last Lord Plunket'forwarded to the Secretary of State for the Colonies a request from tho Rev. Dr. Gibb that certain clergymen should bo appointed chaplains to the-fleet so that tho Presbyterian Church should have tho same opportunities that obtain .with the Anglican andMethodist'churclic's, and bo able to ,minister to the needs of their co-religionists on, board his Majesty's ships at tho four principal ports of New Zealand. "If this request can bo granted under tho present regulations," wrote-tho Governor, "I desire to support the application." ' civil service superannuation. The Public Accounts Committee has reported on tho Public Service Classification j and Superannuation Amendment Bill. A proviso has been added to Clause 12 regarding retiring allowances as follows Provided that tho board may, with the approval qf the Minister for Education, extend tho provisions'of this section to any caso in which the ago of a male contributor is not less than sixty years, or the .age. of.,a. female contributor is. not loss than fifty, yejirs: Tho clause regarding' persons' re-entering- the Service after retirement therefrom has been redrafted. / FAILED. An attempt was made by Mr. R. M'Kenzio (Chainnau of Committees) last evening, to pass the Railway Construction Estimates (£900,000) at a gulp. But it failed. The 'incident was peculiar. When the chairman took the chair at 7,30 p.m. the only other member in tho House was the Hon. A. R. Guinndss, sitting as a private member. The chairman, seeing an opening, with an activity foreign to his accustomed demeanour, began:—''The committee is resumed; thei question is that tho sum not exceeding £900,000 be voted to his Majesty for railway construction, and many as are in favour say " But Mr. Guinness forestalled the _ rest of tho sentence: "I call your attention to the state of the House!" he cried in a rapid crescendo! " There-is not a quorum." The chairman looked up. "Ring the bell," ho directed sorrowfully. " There is no quorum." Tho bell was rung, a quorum trooped in, and tho vote was subsequently debated for nearly- an hour. In a dispatch to tho Secretary of State for the Colonies, his Excelleny (Lord Plunket) states that the Government desire in connection with tho change —the designation of New Zealand to substitute for the laurel wreath in the Union Jack (flown on shipboard) a wreath of fern leaves. A similar privilege was granted Canada in 1870, whon the maple leave replaoed the laurel. Tho Petitions Committee have no recommendation to make regarding the petitions praying for the repeal of all legislation dealing with vaccination. A similar report .was presented by the Petitions Committee regarding the request for a bare majority poll in regard to tne liquor trade.