PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 288, 2 November 1934, Page 10

PARLIAMENT.

TO-DAY’S SITTING

POSITION OF RETIRED RAILWAY-

MEN

Per Press Association

WELLINGTON, Nov. 2. The House of Representatives met at 10.30. The position of railwayman who were prematurely retired as an economy measure and whose superannuation was computed on an actuarial basis was mentioned when the Public Petitions Committee recommended the petition of former railway men seeking the full pension that they would received had they been permitted to complete their term of service to the Government for favourable consideration. Several members referred to cases of hardship that had arisen, Mr W. Nash stating that the number of men so retired was 139 and because of the small pension they received they were unable to go on relief and were unable to secure other work. Rt Hon. G. W. Forbes said he sympathised with the position of the men, but business on the railways was reduced and the same number of men were not required. A number had to be retired. The same thing took place in many private firms. Under the Superannuation Fund’s rules those men were entitled to withdraw the money they had paid in, but the Government agreed to give them a concession. and offered them as an alternative a pension computed on an actuarial basis. . . Mr M. J- Savage said the action or the Government was a distinct breach of the contract that was entered into between those men and the State. The report was tabled. DISPOSAL OF RESERVE LANDS. Hon J. G. Cobbe moved the second reading of the Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Bill He said most of the clauses in it had a local appli cation. The second reading was car--I*<Hon. J. A. Young moved the second reading of the . Local Legislation Bill, which was carried. CINEMATOGRAPH INDUSTRY. Mr Young moved the second leading of the Cinematograph Films Amendment Bill. He said it had. been stated the Bill was aimed against Bntish films, but that was not so; it was aimed to secure exhibition of high-class British films and gave the right to reject rubbishy films which were sent out to satisfy the quota rights. Exhibitors did not want that class of film, the Bill was in no sense injurious to British interests. COMPANIES INVESTIGATION.

The Cinematograph Bill was interrupted to receive a message from the Governor-General introducing a Bill appointing the Public Trustee to be receiver and manager of certaitr companies mentioned in the Companies (Special Investigation) Act,. 1934, pending the completion of the investigation of certain companies mentioned in the Act.