PARLIAMENT.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 257, 17 October 1911, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wellington, Oct. 16. The House resumed at 7.30. RAILWAYMEN’S PETITION. Mr. Millar, replying to a question by Mr. Hine, said he understood that the Government had been said to have changed its mind with regard to the hearing of the petition of the second division of railway men. The Government had not changed its mind in the matter : in fact the Committee was ready now to go on with the second division and continue until sufficient evidence had been heard. The cause of the delay in the hearing of the first division petition was that every latitude had been allowed. and witnesses had been brought by the employee on every point. The department had to bring witnesses in a similar manner, and it would do so. Throughout it rested with the railwaymen whether the matter was finished or not. If the men sent witnesses on all points the department would do the same, anti there would necessarily be delay. RAILWAY BILL. Replying to Mr. M ilford, Mr. Millar said the Railway Bill would be brought down in a couple of days. NATIVE LAND CLAIMS BILL. The Native Land Claims Bill was read the first time. TAUPO-TOTARA COMPANY’S PETITION, Mr. Davey, chairman of the Committee of Enquiry into the TaupoTotara Company’s petition, read a statement made in a Rotorua paper by Mr. Raw, a member of the Rotorua Chamber of Commerce, in which it was stated that Rotorua had no friends in Parliament : that during the taking of evidence Mr. Dalziell was allowed to interject by way of commentary on the statements of witnesses ; also, that Mr. McDonald had sounded members of the House and'called a meeting in relation to

th<> enquiry and then set tip the Commission. Mr. Raw further stated that the report was a foregone conclusion. Mr Davey said the viatement that Mr. McDonald called a meeting in the House to discuss the petition and then set iui rhe committee was absolutely falst. Practically the whole of Hie sta'e. ment was incorrect.

Mr. McDonald said he had asked a few members if they were willing to act on the Coinittee if nominated and nothing further. Mr. T. Mackenzie said tlie Rotorua Chamber of Commerce was politically biassed and failed to recognise what had been done. XXXOUXCEMENT BY THE SPEAK ER. The Speaker announced that he had decided to allow bills to he put through all stages at one sitting. Old age pensions. The Prime Minister moved the second reading of the Old Age Pensions Amendment. Bill, the principal clause of which provides that, where any person who, being a male, reached 60. or being a female. 55 years, and has dependent on him oilier two or more children, shall be entitled to a pension, the amount of the pension to be as presetibed by the principal Act, with the addition of such sum not exceeding £l3 per annum as the magistrate in his discretion, having regard to the circumstances of the case, determined. He stated that the scheme would cost some £10,060 a year extra. The rates on the present pensions where there were dependents would be incrased 50 per cent and the maximum pension would be £5l per year. Mr. Fisher asked that Imperial pensions should be exempt under the Act. Mr. Wilford suggested that the railway superannuation shouiJ apply in similar manner. Mr. Hogan thought the scheme should be extended to an indigent person at 60. the blind, the maimed, the crippled and the deformed. Sir Joseph Ward, in reply, said the question of applying the system to railwaymen superannuated was all a matter of money. Last year the scheme had cost £380,000 ; this y :ar the expenditure would be over £4o' ,- GOO, plus £55,000 for pensions to widows. The bill was an enormous advance in legislation dealing with pensions. The bill was read the second time PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT The Public Works Statement was !>•. 1 on the table. Sir Joseph Ward said the Statirnent would be considered on A lie-clay at 2.30. A Loan Bill v. iuid be brought clown and considered simultaneously. WIDOWS PENSIONS BILL. Sir Joseph Ward moved the second reading of the Widows’ Pensions Bill. The mainspring of the introduction of the measure was the saving of children as an asset for the State. The scheme would cost the whole of £55,000, and would be money well spent. Mr." Allen supported the measure, which he hoped would go on the statute book. The bill was read the second time. STATE GUARANTEED ADVANCES BILL. Sir Joseph Ward moved the second reading of the State Guaranteed Advances Bill. The chief clause pro-! vided power for raising £250,000 per annum for assisting workers to build homes: The second reading was agreed to. IN COMMITTEE. The House went into Committee on several bills. The Christchurch District Drainage Amendment Bill was reported. The Shipping and Seamen Amendment Bill was reported with minor amendments. RATING AMENDMENT BILL. The Rating Amendment Bill was then considered. Mr. Luke protested that in connection with water rates large many storeyed buildings would be favored as against smaller buildings which used less water. The same applied to gas and electricity. The Government should consult the municipal authorities in these maters. Mr. Fraser supported Mr. Luke. Mr. Fowlds said the ValuerGeneral under the law had to see a sufficient rate levied to meet loans. Mr. Allen moved to strike out the words “water rates. Lost by 31 to 19.

LEGISLATION BY EXHAUSTION BILLS RUSHED THROUGH. Wellington, Oct. 17. In the House after 2 a.m.. The Rating Amendment Bill, subclause 2. clause 2, provides that a poll may be taken before applying the unimproved rating system to The Minister moved to make the clause obligatory by inserting the words ”Shall on receipt of a petition ■signed bv fifteen per cent of the ratepayers” take a poll. This was carried and the bill was reported The Land and Income lax Bill was put through without amendment. The Death Duties Amendment Bit. was considered. Mr. Allen called a division on the proposal to repeal the proviso in the exsiting law which exempts from duty small gifts. This was rejected by 29 to IlMr. Allen held that the proposa. to exempt gifts up to £ WOO was not a concession, there being a provision in the existing law to exempt gifts up to £5OO made six months before death, , The bill was reported. The Public Works Bill was con sidered. Mr. Allen moved to add a proviso to clause making the laying of electric lines pursuant to lines that ii did not affect existing lines used bv farmers or private individuals. The motion was rejected and tht bill was reported. The following bills were read third time and pased Christchurch IJrainage. Shipping and Seamen. Rating Amendment. Land Tax. Incmue Tax ami Death Duties Amendment. Public Works Amendment. The House at 3.15 a m.