UPPER HOUSE

Grey River Argus, 10 March 1933, Page 8

UPPER HOUSE

MR FAGAN'S PROPOSAL TO CUT FAT PENSIONS. (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, March 9. The Legislative Council mot a t 10.30 a.m. Speaking on the second reading of the Finance Bill, Mr Fagan urged that legislation should bo introduced to relieve the position with respect to some twenty-seven State superannuitants, who had vastly overdrawn the amount they had paid iuto the funds. A return presented to th e Council had shown that these men had paid a total of £26,618, and had already drawn out £152,658. They were still drawing out on the same scale, and some of them were holding down other positions, when there were 70,000 men out of employment. Another class which should be dealt with was the “highest branch of the Justice Department.” The Judiciary had been sub ject to salary reductions in England and Australia and in view aof the fact that the New Zealand branch had not seen fit to accept a voluntary reduction, he suggested that compulsion should bo employed CONTRACEPTIVES. The Contraceptives Bill was read a second time without discussion, on the motion of Mr Carrington. In the committee stage, Sir J. Allen said the Bill was designed to confine the sale of contraceptives to registered chemists and prohibit the sale to persons under IS, but there was nothing to prevent a. person over 18 buying contraceptives on behalf of anyone under that age. Mr Bubbo said ho doubted whether the Bill, which was inquisitorial, would be of any value. Sir T. Sidt’y said it might be wise to restrict the sale of contraceptives to persons who had obtained a medical certificate. Mr Colling said it would bo difficult to legislate- to meet all points which had been raised. He thought it might be desirable to raise the age of prohibited persons to twenty, and he suggested the matter be further considered. Mr Smith said an amendment to the Police Offences Act might meet the position better than the Bill. Mr Masters suggested that the Bill bo withdrawn until next session to enable further inquiries to be, made. Mr Carrington said be had no desire to force the Bill through the Council, and he moved for the withdrawal. The motion was agreed to. FINANCE BILL. Mr Hanan said that provision was made in the Finance Bill fur tho establishment of silver coinage. lie hoped the Government did not have in mind a managed currency. Mr Masters: It has uo Ir’arin-- cm it. M,- Hanan: lam glad to have that assurance. He considered there were inherent dangers in any system of managed currency, and that eventually tho principal countries would return to the gold standard. Sir F. D. Bell said he had objected over and over again to “the rubbish being put in Finance Bills.” Technically it was most important that amendments to legislation should be brought about by amendments io original Acts, and the provision in the Finance Bill for a fine, for which a masseur was liable if. he did not have a certificate, was an irregularity which amounted to impropriety. The Bill was passed