Parliamentary Notes.

Hastings Standard, Issue 490, 1 December 1897, Page 3

Parliamentary Notes.

IN THE HOUSE AND COUNCIL. [Bv Telkoiuph.] [From our Special Reporter.] W Ellington, This day. OLD AGE PENSION'S. Having gained their point in refusing to allow the business of the country to be proceeded with at what they conceived to be unreasonable hours, the Opposition on the House meeting this afternoon expressed through their acting leader, the Hon. Mr Rolleston, their desire to begin the new day sitting in-a working mood. The obstruction thus terminated, fast progress was made with the Old Age Pensione Bill, and before the 5.30 adjournment had arrived clause 51 was passed, and there was a reasonable prospect of concluding the committee stage of the Bill after another sitting. Most cf the amendments made were of a technical character consequental on amendments made in the earlier stages of the measure. A proviso to clause 46 proposed by Mr Moore, empowering Stipendary Magistrates in special cases to vary the terms of payment of pensions, was negatived by B2 to 21. At the evening sitting the remaining clauses of the Old Age Pens-ions Bill was passed in Committee, and the Bill reported to the House, which rose at 1 o'clock. It is expected that the majority on the third reading of the Pensions Bill will be about half a dozen. Now that measure has safely emerged through committee the prospects of proroguing before Christmas is much improved. The third reading of the Old Age Pensions Bill will be taken on Friday and the Public Works Statement will be brought down on Tuesday. THE NEW YEAP.'s SITTINC+. The Opposition refuse to believe that Mr Seddon is serious about meeting again after the new year, and says that when he sees the backs of members he won't be in a hurry to see their faces. IN THE COUNCIL. The Council this afternoon by 12 to 9 passed the second reading of the Crown Suits Extension Bill, which was strongly resisted by the Minister in charge of that chamber. The Bill has no hope of passing. JUDGE kettle's CASE. Judge Kettle had an interview today with the Ministers of Justice and Lands, regarding the false statement made during the consideration of the Valuation Estimates re his alleged indebtedness to the Bank of New South Wales. Judge Kettle wants the correspondence which passed between himself and the Justice Department on the matter to be laid on the table of the House and a retraction of the charge made, failing which he will petition to be heard at the bar of the House.