PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 964, 3 November 1910, Page 8

PARLIAMENT.

THE HOUSE. WELUNCTON HARBOUR BOARD. When the House resumed its sittings yesterday, The Wellington Harbour Board Empowering Bill was introduced, read a iirst time, and. referred to the Local Bills Committee. HARBOURS BILL. After a brief discussion, in which Mr. Massey .and other members congratulated the Hon. J. A. Millar in connection with his efforts in regard to the Harbours Bill, that measure was put through its final stages. NOXIOUS WEEDS BILL. Thp Noxious "Weeds Bill was then considered in Committee, as reported in another column. TAIERI LAND DRAINAUt. The Taieri Land Drainage Bill was passed through Committee with a few verbal amendments. COMPANIES BILL. In moving the second reading of the Companies Amendment Bill, The PRIME MINISTER said that decisions of the English Court of Appeal had established the rule that a company has no power to re-issue debentures after having redeemed them or deposited them with a-bank as temporary security for an overdraft. The decisions invalidated transactions of such number and magnitude that the Imperial Parliament in 1907 passed retrospective legislation validating all such re-issues of debentures, and altering the law for tho future. The present Bill adopted the provisions of the English Act of 1907. The second reading was agreed to. JUSTICES OF THE PEACE BILL. In moving the second reading of.the Justices of the Peace Amendment Bill, The Hon. T. MACKENZIE said the amendment proposed to allow a person who might be fined and sentenced to imprisonment jn' default'to have the option of. paying off a portion of the fine, and having his sentence reduced accordingly. This brought the Act into conformity with, the Act of England, Victoria, and New South Wales. Mr. WILFORD (Hritt) thought the amendment was a- very proper one. • ' Mr. Herries: "Will it be referred to the Statutes Revision .Committee?" The Minister: "No. That is not intended." The second reading was agreed to. NATIONAL ANNUITIES. SECOND READING DISCUSSION. COST AND BENEFITS. In moving the second reading of the National Provident Bill in the House of Representatives last night, • The PRIME MINISTER said he calculated that the. Bill would require a contribution of £50,000 a ■ year from' the country. , ' Mr. Massey: "Right away.?" Sir Joseph Ward: "No. It would take several years to bring it about." £14,000 to £17,000 a year wmild be required in the case of assistance to mothers. The calculations were approximately on the number of persons likely to take advantage of the scheme. The Bill provided for the establishment of a National Provident Fund, the contributors to which would be encouraged to make provision for old age aud sickness, and for widows and orphans. ■ Tho fund was guaranteed by tho.Government the same as the Public Service Superannuation Fund, which system on tho whole had worked satisfactorily. The amount each individual would be called, upon to contribute was not a heavy one. A limitation of income was required, or otherwise the total amount the Government would be required to contribute might be more than they would be justified in paying. By restricting the income to £200 and under, they gave opportunity to that class most likely to avail themselves of the Act. i A Liberal Scale. The Bill would apply to the Native race as well as to the. Europeans. It was essential to the success of a system of tho kind that before benefits were conferred on an individual he . should assist the system for five, years. This same system was to be extended to those who joined the Public Service Superannuation Fund in the future. The proposals in the Bill covered on a liberal scale the necessities of people of, comparatively speaking, small incomes. Two-thirds of the .workers of New Zealand would" come under the Bill, and, in the event of its, • passing, he believed that all thinking men in receipt of £200 and under would very quickly realise the advantages to be, derived. Mr. MASSEY said he could heartily support the Bill. He thoroughly approved the principal of the Bill without committing himself to every detail. Neither would he express an opinion on the financial soundness oftho proposals. This was a matter for actuaries. ' He was sorry the Bill had not been brought in earlier so that it could have been referred to tho Public Accounts Committee. We were commencing to consider the Bill , under very disadvantageous circumstances, but we must do the best we can with it. - Position of Friendly Societies. His only doubt about the success of the Bill was that it might interfere with the operations of friendly societies. This, however, might be met by an amendment of the law later on. In 1908 he (Mr. Massey) had advocated a system of deferred annuities for the whole of New Zealand. He had covered the ground that was now being gone over. The scheme was hot perfect by any means, but they' must profit by experience, and make amendments and improvements later on. Mr. NEWMAN (Manawatu) supports ed the Bill, which would encourage the people to thrift and saving. His only fear was that the measure might injure tho friendly'societies, which had rendered magnificent service to the country. Co-operation among the people would bo a necessary essential to a successful scheme. Mr. J. ALLEN (Bruce) said that Sir Harry Atkinson was the first member to introduce in Parliament resolutions dealing with the subject of national insurance. Another part of his. scheme was that 'in respect of each child born there should be a State gift of £5. This showed what a great Liberal Sir Harry really was. He u not see that the making of the present scheme, universal would involve undue financial strain on tho country. Mr. M'LAREN (Wellington East) declared that the Bill would meet with the approval of tho workers. Messrs. Luke (Wellington Suburbs), Fraser (Wakatipu), Anderson (Mataura), Poland (Ohinemuri), Taylor (Thames), and Stallworthy (Kaipara) expressed approval of the measure; The Premier, in reply, said that he gave every credit to the late Sir Harry Atkinson and tho late Mr. Seddon for their efforts to establish schemes of tho kind. That portion of the scheme relating to maternity benefits would come into forco upon the passing of the Bill. Only contributors to tho fund . would get the advantages under this section of the measure. Tho schemo would break down if made universal. The Bill was read a second time. 'lie House than adjourned. .; ..