THE OLD AGE PENSIONS BILL. TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS IN THE HOUSE.

Evening Post, Volume LVI, Issue 74, 24 September 1898, Page 6

THE OLD AGE PENSIONS BILL. TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS IN THE HOUSE.

As will be seen from the report on page 2 of this issue, the House of Representatives nat all night in Committee on the Old Age Pensions Bill 5 aud at 9 o'clock adjourned lor breakfast. On resuming at 20 minutes to 10 the discussion on clause 8 of the Bill was continued, first b} r Mr. Scobie Mackenzie, who blamed the Premier keeping members sitting so long ; *and then by Mr. Hogg, who protested against the obstruction of the Bill. Mr. Taylor referred to the crudities of the Bill, and said that according to the Ministerial idea no criticism was justifiable. Such methods were bound to lead to revolt on the part of those members who wanted to make the Bill workable. He protested against criticism of the measure having to be confined to the Opposition and the Left Wing ; and to the Government supporters trooping iv like sheep when the division bell was rung. Mr. Rolleston said there were not half-a-dozen members who honestly believed in the Bill in its present form. He did not believe in a stonewall, but the unreasonableness of the Premier drove the Opposition to extreme measures. Replying to the taunt of sitting and not speaking, Mr. O'Regan, as one of the Government following who bad sat up throughout the nigkt, said he had absented himself fr«m the Chamber so as not to be provoked into replying to the senseless amendments proposed and the weary drivel spoken from the other side. The discussion drifted on throughout the morning, most of the speakers being on the Opposition side. At 1 p.m. the Committee adjourned for an hour on the Premier's suggestion. At 3.15 o'clock Mr. T. E. Taylor urged a compromise, but Captain Russell said he bad come to the conclusion that there was no alternative but to fight the question out. As we go to press both sides appear determined to hold out to the limit of their staying power. The continuous sitting must be interrupted from 12 o'clock to-night until 1 a.m. on Monday morning. The Standing Order, No. 55, provides that. " the Speaker or Chairman of Committees shall leave the Chair at 12 o'clock on Saturday night, and I no sitting of the House shall take place between 12 o'clock on Saturday night and 1 o'clock on Monday morning." With this interval the present sitting can be prolonged into next week.