THE HOUSE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 972, 12 November 1910, Page 7

THE HOUSE.

NEW BILLS. , When the House resumed its sittings yesterday, notice was given by the Hon. Mr. Buddo.to introduce the Public Health Amendment, tho Auctioneers, and the Dentists Amendment Bills. NEW ZEALAND LOANS. QUESTION OF SINKING FUNDS. .The: second reading of the New Zealand Loans Amendment Bill was proposed. :

The PRIME MINISTER said it, made provision that every debenture andovery stock certificate issued under the principal Act in respect of any loan to which the Public Debt Extinction Act, 1910, applied shall have printed thereon a statement in prescribed form. Replying to questions, put by Messrs. Allen and Masscy, the Prime Minister said that the sinking funds provided for by. Statute-book. were well within our capacity, and they ensured our financial stability. He denied there could be any repudiation—technical or otherwise. This endorsement would not require to be put on any current stock for our loans. In the event of conversion, however; this . endorsement would be put on . the: stock. In the case of a loan with a currency of thirty .years after the passage of, this Act, tho endorsement, would probably' savo the country two or three or four per cent. Before many years, he thought other countries would follow the lead Now Zealand was setting in this matter. The Bill was then read, a second time. OLD AGE PENSIONS. AN AMENDING MEASURE. In moving the second reading of the Old Age Pensions Bill,

■ The PRIME MINISTER said it remedied defects in the existing law which were universally recognised as defects. It- removed the clog in the law of last year in respect- to the £50 in connection with accumulated earnings, and he proposed to have the system of calculating upon £10 abolished, and to get a workable system. The Bill' would allow oxemptious up to £340 in respect to homes, £50 from cash or any other property, in addition to which the recipient might be. in receipt of £34 a year without suffering any redaction. After enumerating the advantages pensioner? would have under tlie Bill compared with last year's Bill, the Prime Minister showed its operation in respect to married couples, both of whom were entitled to pensions, living in homes of various values. In a caso where the value of the house was £600, each pensioner received £4 under the 1008 Act. One received nothing, and the other £25 under the 1909 Act, and each would receive £13 under this Bill. Where the value was £650, the pensions were: 1908 each £1, 1909 nothing aiid £25, 1910 each £11. Where the value was £700, the figures were: 1908 nothing, 1909 nothing and £20, 1910 each £8. Value £750: 190S nothing, 1909 nothing and £15, 1910 each. £6: Value £800: 1908 nothing, 1909 nothing and £10, 1910 each £3.' Value £350: 1908 nothing, 1909 nothing and, £5, 1910 each £1. Value £900: Nothing in each year. Tho Prime Minister said tho amendments of last year would add £15,000 to the cost of the schcmb, and those. of this year £11,000. Mr. MASSEY said that as ho understood the Bill it was intended to remedy defects contained in the measure passed through in the dying hours of last yeai\ Last year's Bill was very complicated, and it was found when it came into operation that it reduced tho pensions of many old couples. Ho expressed tho hope that the Bill would bo watched moro closely in Committee than last year's Bill, and there would be no further ground of complaint. ■ After - some further discussion, the second reading was agreed to. TWO BILLS PASSED. During tho evening sitting tho New Zealand Loans Amendment Bill and the Old Age Pensions Amendment Bill were put through their final stages. DESTITUTE PERSONS. The House docided not to insist on its amendments in the Destitute Persons Bill. STONE QUARRIES BILL. A message was received from !\ie Legislative Council insisting on the amendments it bad made ill tho'Stono Quarries Bill. Consideration of the reasons given for the insistence was poncd until next sitting day LICENSINC BILL. Tho Licensing Bill was put through Committee, and, as reported elsewhere, passed its third reading. The House then adjourned.

"Let us get on with the Bill," oxclaimed Sir Joseph Ward, while Mr. Lawry was speaking on the Licensing Bill last night. The member looked iierco for a moment. "Look- hero," lie said, "I have never interfered .with you." • "Order! Order!" called the .Chairman of. Committees, and Mr. Lawry said no more.