HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 33, 7 August 1914, Page 10

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The House continued its sitting after The Post went to press yesterday HUTT PARK. The Hutt Park Amendment Bill (Mr. Wilford) was put through committee and final stages. UNION LAt Mr. WCombs moved the second u«ld* ing of the Industrial Unions and. Trade Unions Enabling Bill, which proposes that the funds of a trade union may be used for political purposes if a majority of its members carry such a resolution as a result of a ballot. After debate the second reading was agreed to on the voices and referred to the Labour Bills Committee. NATIONAL PROVIDENT FUN*>, Mr. Ell moved the second reading #f the National Provident Fund Act Amendment Bill, which provides, that the employees of local bodies and business firms may take advantage of the provisions of the Act irrespective of age, and so provide for a superannuation scheme which is not at present possible. i Speaking on the subject, the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher said that the Bill to be' introduced by the Government would provide facilities for trades unions and local bodies for getting superannuation and 'increasing the benefits of the Act to the workers. There was every reaton to believe that in a few years the fund wonld have reached a very strong position. He add6d that under the various Government superannuation fund's there are at present 29,600 contributors, and, including persons coming in under thu pensions schemes, there were in. all between 53,000 and 54,000 persons who are either in receipt of pensions'or have made provision for superannuation. Under the scheme between 7000 and 8000 members had been enrolled. The Government Bill made provision for co-operative action on the part_ of local authorities and groups of contributors, on the basis of contributions in and by local authorities on behalf of their employees. The proposed system was voluntary as far as the local authority wns concerned. Special legislation was also proposed in regard to married- women contributors. He believed that it would . possibly be necessary in the future to pass legislation in the direction of making friendly societies' funds solvent. At this> stage the Government's Bill was brought down by Governor's Message and was read a first time. The second reading of Mr. 'Ell's Bill was agreed to on the voices. At 5.20 p.m. the House adjourned until 7.30 p.m., when the Minister of Finance (Hon. J. Allen) *cad the Financial State, ment. This lasted until 9.35 p.m., wheri ■**-■» blouse adjourned until 2,30 p.m. to-