PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 28 September 1934, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

ALLEGED BREACH

PENSIONS CUT PAYMENT.

(Per Pre 8 g Association, Copyright),

WELLINGTON, September 28,

lii the House of Representatives, , during a discussion on the report of >' the Public Petitions 'Committee, Mr >, F. Jones (Dunedin South) alleged that a member of the committee (Mr MacPhers'On), had been approached by s tlie Prime Minister and Minister of - Finance, regarding the findings of - that committee. He contended that should 'not have happened. 1 Mr Savage (Labour Leader) said the r charge was t)’.ie most serious one he had ever heard made in the House. He said if the Ministers of the Crown were going to 'approach members of' a committee and that member was going to tell the committee that the Government were not satisfied with recommendations that were brought" down from time -to time-, the proceedings would immediately be- turned into a farce. ' ,-v . Mr J. A. MacPherson (Oamaru) said he had nothing to hide. All that, had happened was that lie, Mr Forbes,’ and Mr Coates were discussing certain matters, when a certain name was mentioned. ' “ 1 ' ’ The Hon. J. G. Coates said the conversation took place, in the lobby. He did not know whether or not the man’s case \das under consideration oy the committee. Th Speaker said as only a general statement was made, and there was no specified case cf interference with any particular case, and a, breach of privilege w;a, s not made out. Tihe incident was then closed. In the evening, the Finance Bill dealing with the restoration of salary and wage cuts of publip ..servants apd old age w&g introduced. The Hon. J. G. Coates, moving, the. second reading said, the. bill was divided in four parts; . v . w ,. a vi ■ •(; > (A) A five per cent, increase in sal- . t arie i 9 and wages of public servants. (B) A five: per,cent increase in old age pensions.- : •* ■ 1 • (C) The retention in the consolidated fund of a sum not, exceeding £500,000 from the Highways revenue (motor spirit taxation), accounted as payment out of the consolidated fund, to the superannuation fund, to aggregate £200,000. He Was-pleased* s to "be-Able to state ; tht. he could now date-the yestqration-.,. of the old age pension cut to April 1 last. Pensions of South African war v ' veterans would also be . increased by , 1 £4 per year. : -y.. 1 Air, M, J. Savage thought it fair to say that the ; bill’ would he '»welcomed' ’ by all sides cf the house, and all ‘ sections of" the community. ' However", many thousands outside of the public ’ service .would be-very 1 dissatisfied. The * C'vv e-rument had done... nothing to make t'ho restoration general;'!) He was glad to see the old age pension restoration made retrospective, but he said’ were it-not for the Opposition, that would not have been. done. The bill was read a second time. The Band and Income Tax ’Bill was. also read a -second time. v, * Both bills were put through the ■committee" stages and read a thiixL time and passed. • THE GOLD MINING INDUSTRY. ; , i WELLINGTON, September 28. ( When the House resumed its consideration of the estimates Mr P. C. Webb (L. Puller), urged that the 12/6 tax on gold found should be retained by the Mines Department to develop new . areas and stimulate the industry. More up-to-date methods must be adopted for securing gold, otherwise prospectors might as well be working on the roads, Air E, F. Healy (C., Wairau) appealed to the Government to give prospectors greater assistance, particularly in the use of diamond drills. Air W. J. Broadfoot (C., Waitomo), i considered not only gold, but other base ores, such as manganese and chrome should be developed in the Dominion.