Parliamentary Notes.

Hastings Standard, Issue 501, 14 December 1897, Page 4

Parliamentary Notes.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Monday, December 10. The House met at 2.00. OLD AGE PENSIONS BILL. The Hon. T. Kelly moved that it was the constitutional right of the Council to amend the machinery clauses of Bills containing money clauses, and providing money clauses were not dealt with it was no infringe ment of the privileges of the House of Representatives to amend the other clauses of such Bills. He surveyed the previous action of the Council with money Bills, and contended that the Council had an undoubted right to amend the Old Age Pensions Bill. The Hon. C. C. Bowen held that the carrying of the motion could have no effect, as Mr Kelly had not challenged the ruling of the Speaker that this Bill was a money Bill. The Hon. J. MacGregor asked the Council to insist on its rights to amend the Old Age Pensions Bill, and held that the Council could amend every clause of the Bill except the appropria. tion clause 51. The Speaker explained that in his ruling he had vainly sought to escape the position which impaired the value of the Upper House as a branch of the Legislature. The Minister of Education trusted that the Council would not submit to having its hands tied owing to an error of judgment on the part of the Speaker. The motion was agreed to on the voices. SECOND READINGS. The Consolidated Stock Act Amendment Bill and the Members of the House of Representatives Disqualification Bill were read a second time. OLD AGE PENSIONS BILL. The Hon T. W. Jennings resumed the debate on the second reading of the Old Age Pensions Bill, strongly supporting the measure, but as 70 per cent of the workers did not reach the age of G5, and the average age of the death of mechanical laborers was as low at 48 years, the age fixed by the Bill was too high. The Hon M. S. Grace pointed out many difficulties which would result from the Bill. At 5 p.m. the Council adjourned till 7.80. EVENING SITTING. The Council resumed at 7.80. OLD AGE PENSIONS. The debate on the second reading of the Old Age Pensions Bill was continued by the Hons. Arkwright, Swanson, .and Jones, who supported the bill. The Hon. W. M. Bolt considered the financial proposals very unsatisfactory, and outlined a scheme based on insurance which he said would be the only satisfactory way of solving the question. The bill was partial in its operation, but as he had always advocated old age pensions he would vote for this imperfect measurp. The debate was adjourned at 10 p.m. on the motion of the Hon. W. Montgomery. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Monday, December 13. The House met at 7.30. p.m. LAND AND INCOME ASSESSMENT. The Land and Income Assessment Act Amendment Bill, relieving commercial travellers from the tax now levied on them, was introduced and read a first time. QUESTIONS. Mr Seddon, replying to Mr Rolleston, said he would do his best to bring the Public Works Statement down on Tuesday evening, but regretted to intimate that the Hon. J. M'Kenzie was seriously ill, and this might delay the statement. Mr Seddon, in reply to Mr Ward, said if it was the general wish of members he was willing to introduce a measure to permit a person not duly qualified to treat patients for cancer. THE HOROWHENUA BILL. By 30 to 21 a motion to refer back the report on the Horowhenua Bill to the Native Affairs Committee, in order that the evidence of Sir Walter Buller md Major Kemp might be taken, was legatived. THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SERVICE. Mr Seddon moved that the House jo into committee of the whole to consider a series of resolutions authorising ,he extension of the San Francisco nail service till March 31st, 1899, and ,he establishment of the Vancouver service till 1899. He dealt at some ength with communications between he Government and the United States " Government on the subject of the San Francisco service, and said that for the j ast four years the colony had not f )enefited by the American trade. Our ( rade with America in 1890, he pointed ] iut, amounted to £400,000, whilst the American trade with us was only £200,000. Last year the figures were eversed. The colony had, however, jenefitted by the tourist traffic by this oute. Referring to the proposed Vancouver service he said the Imperial tuthorities favored direct communicaion with Cauada. The motion was agreed to. A lengthy consideration in comnittee the restrictions were agreed to vith slight modifications. MASTERS AND APPRENTICES. The Masters and Apprentices Bill vas further considered in committee. Clause 3, apprentices.— Mr Monk noved to strike out the sub-section leclaring that no young person shall >e apprenticed except by deed of ipprenticesbip under this Act. Negaived by 36 to 16. Clause agreed to. Clause 15, wages of apprentices.— \lr Holland n«)ved that apprentices .hall be paid on the third year 30 per 'mi, of tfce stawlaydr&te payable to

journeymen, instead of 35 per cent, as proposed by the Bill. Agreed to by 27 to 20. The clause was further amended to provide that 40 per cent, shall be paid to apprentices on the fourth year. Clause 21, repeal.—Mr Smith moved that the Act shall apply to all skilled handicrafts carried on by Government. —Mr Seddon hoped the supporters of the Bill would not agree to this amendment. — Negatived by 24 to 23. The Bill was reported.