EVENING SESSION.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVI, Issue 262, 5 November 1912, Page 2

EVENING SESSION.

Tho House resumed at 7.30/p.m ST^ATE FIRE OFFICE/

In Committee on the State; Fire Insurance Bill, •> ' ;

The Hon. Mr FISHER quoted the Cabinet minutes of the Seddon and Ward Administrations, which set out that the Cabinet had released the State Departments from insisting on compulsory insurance in the State Office.

The Hon. Mr ALLEN said the circular recently issued by the Department was necessary from a legal-standpoint. If business were restricted to the State Office it would mean the ruination of the Farmers' Co-operative Insurance Company. The State Office was not created, to shut out others, but to act as a check on them.

The Hon. R. McKENZIE CMotueka) submitted that unless the Government took care of the State Fire Insurance business, this Department, would be brought to grief, and then up would go the premiums again.

Mr LATTRENSON (Lyttelton) remarked that no amount of dodging would alter the following facts: Lastyear the Liberal Government issued a circular requiring borrowers of State money to insure with the State. This ■year tho Massey Government merely urged borrowers to give preference to the State Insurance Office. \TOWN BOARDS BILL. The Town Boards Amendment Bill was read a third time. i MILITARY PENSIONS. The Military Pensions Bill was considered in Committee. Mr OKEY (Taranaki) said the people who would benefit under the Act were prepared to accept smaller pensions, so long as they were given purely for services rendered and not by way of charity. The Hon. Mr FISHER said that all claims had been fairly considered. He did not think that any Government flould go further than the present Government proposed to go. The MINISTER accepted an amendment by Sir Arthur Guinness, proyiding that moneys drawn from a bank for applicants' uso shall not count as income. The Bill was amended by providing that persons who have been absent from the Dominion for a short period should not be debarred from receiving [ the pension. Tliei Bill was reported with amendments. R/ULWAY BILL. Amendments to the Railway Bill { were introduced, providing for repre- : sentation by secretaries of the

A.S.R.S., Locomotive and Enginecleaners^v- Association, and Railway Officers1 Society on the Appeal Board, and wereV read a; first time. - . PROGRESS OF OTHER BILLS. The Military Pensions Bill was read a third time and passed. Amendments made in the Council to the Land',Bill were agreed to. The. Public Reserves and Domains Bill. Ellesraere .Drainage Bill,. Westport Harbor Board Bill, and Government Life Insurance Bill were read a third time and passed. The Barmaids' Registration Bill and the Fisheries Amendment Bill were read a second time.

The House rose at 2.10 a.m