WIDOWS OF MINERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21165, 23 April 1932, Page 13

WIDOWS OF MINERS.

DURATION OF THE PENSIONS.

TWO YEARS' LIMIT IMPOSED. PROMISE FOR REVIEW LATER. [I?Y TELEGRAPH. —TOESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Friday. Tho clauses relating to tho pensions of miners and miners' widows were debated when the Tlouse of Representatives resumed at 9.30 this morning. Mr. W. E. Parry (Labour —Auckland Central) appealed to the Government to drop the clause which limited the duration of pensions of miners' widows to two years after widowhood. He said some widows would, within six months, become absolutely destitute, and it would bo impossible for them to obtain employment. Tho Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, Minister in charge of Unemployment., gave an undertaking to have the question of tho elimination of widows' pensions reviewed during the next session of Parliament. Mr. G. C. Black (Independent— Motueka) pointed out that revenue from tho gold duty had been earmarked for tho fund for the payment of miners' phthisis and minors' widows' pensions. Responsibility of Industry.

The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. H. E. Holland, appealed to tho Government to drop all tho clauses relating to miners' pensions. The amount of saving would not be very large, but would mean a great deal to the people concerned. Ho submitted the mining industry should have been called upon to pay pensions to those whose lives had been wrecked in tho industry. Mr. A. M. Samuel (Government — Thames) said no ono who had lived in a mining electorate would be party to reducing these pensions. It would bo a crime over which angels would weep if women who. had toiled devotedly for those who had been broken on the industrial wheel were deprived of the means of livelihood.

Mr. Parry said there were only 409 widows - affected by tho clause. Tho closure was applied to the debate on the miners' pensions reductions, and divisions were taken on the clause and tho amendments. The latter consisted of attempts to vote each reduction in turn. The proposed amendments were each defeated by 41 votes to 33, and the clause was adopted by the same majority. Messrs. 11. Atrnore, G. C. Black, A. Harris, J. A. Nash, 11. M. Rushworth, A. M. Samuel, A. J. Stallworthy, G. R. Sykes, C. A. Wilkinson and R. A. Wright voted with Labour in opposing the clause. Legislation Next Session.

Mr. Parry moved to amend the clause relating to miners' widows' pensions, with tho object of retaining the pensions subject to the 10 per cent, reduction already imposed by the House in connection with other pensions. Mr. Coates repeated his assurance that the question of miners' widows' pensions would bo reviewed next session, when legislation would bo introduced with a view to giving satisfaction to those affected.

Mr. R. Semple (Labour— Wellington East): Will you give a guarantee that the pension will bo restored 1 Mr. Coates: I am not altogether in a position to give a guarantee. Members raised the question as to the exact meaning of Mr. Coates' undertaking, expressing the fear that circumstances might prevent tho pension from being restored. Mr. Coates promised that legislation would be introduced to enable the matter to be reconsidered. On his motion, the closure was applied at 1.5 p.m., and the clause relating to the pensions of miners' widows was passed on a division after Mr. Parry's amendment had been defeated by 42 votes to 31. PERSONALITIES ARISE. REMARK PASSES UNCHECKED. SERVICES DURING THE WAR. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Fridny. The daring nature of some of the personalities indulged in during the long debate in Committee on the National Expenditure Adjustment Bill was illustrated by a passage which occurred during consideration of the reduction in war pensions this afternoon. Several Labour speakers, as well as Mr. J. Hargest. (Government- —Invercargill) and Mr. H. M. Rushworth (Country —Bay of Islands) had criticised the proposal. Mr. 11. G. Dickie (Government — I'atea), who is a returned soldier, said he regretted that it was deemed essential to curtail war pensions, but he had to admit that none of the returned soldiers' associations in his district had sent him a protest against curtailment'. It bad to be remembered that New Zealand had been fairly liberal in its pension payments. "It is all very well for Labour speakers to object, but there are some men on those benches who did not do their duties as civilians durjng the war and who were openly seditious,' said Mr. Dickie. The Chairman of Committees, Mr. S. G. Smith: Order.

Mr. R. Sernple (Labour —Wellington East), to Mr. Dickie: You're a liar! Tho latter remark passed .unchecked and after a brief pause, Mr. Dickie resumed his speech.

A minute or so later, Mr. Semple again interjected: "Will you address a meeting of returned soldiers in Wellington and (ell them what you are telling the llouso now ?"

The Hon. -A. D. McLeod (Government — Wairarapa), to Mr. Semplo: You ought to he ashamed to address them, anyway, Mr. J. O'Brien (Labour —West land) declared that what Mr. Dickie called sedition at the time of the war was merely telling people what the lion, gentleman and liis friends would do to them after the war.