GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17148, 30 October 1917, Page 5

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL : (Abridged from Press Association telegram.) < " WELLINGTON, October 29. ] Tho Council met at 2.20 pan. • LATE MR BEEHAN., [ A motion of appreciation of the late Hon. Mr Beehan was passed, and the Coue- ■ cil adjourned for tho afternoon as a token ' of respect. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES | Tho House met at 2.30 p.m. < WAR LEGISLATION BILL. ■' Tho amendments made by tito Legislative Council jn tho Wai , Legjalation. Bill were considered. i The Hon. Mr HEIIt>MAN explained that - the Council had amended clauses 16 by ex- ' tending relief to contractors who entered into contracts before or after tho passing of tho Act if the contracts were interfered with by war conditions. The Council had " also amended clause 29 by providing , that , if any civil servant whose were ; compulsorily retained by the State refused to do any work his superannuation rights would not bo preserved to him. The Minister moved that tho amendments bo agreed - to. Several members urged that such oondi- * tions should not be forced upon men who * had earned a retiring allowance and who> s r » were entitled to retire if they wished to do so. They pointed out if a civil servant was entitled to retire on an allowance- of £2and ho was compelled to remain at £3 he : would bo working for only £1 per week. I That was unfair. ■ -'• The Hon. Mr HERDMAN said the posi- , tion was that many young men were leav» ' ing the service to go to the front to fight , for those who remained behind! In order . to prevent a long debate and waste of time "~ he was quite prepared to disagree with the . < amendment, about which he was not very,' "; particular. '- ' Tho proposal was agreed to, and the Hon. Mr Buddo, Messrs Veitch, Parr, and the ; ■Hon. Mr Herdman were appointed to draw up reasons for disagreeing. , ■■ CONDOLENCE. i The PRIME MINISTER, in the course , ;! of a sympathetic and appreciative speech, ■' moved the customary motion of condolence ' with the family and relations of the late-', Mr Boehan, a former member of the Legis- '• latiye Council. Sir Joseph Ward, Mr Jennings, Sir John Findlay, the Hon. Mr Myers, Mr Dickson' : (Parnell), Mr Glover, Sir Jaa. Allen, and,> • Mr Payne paid a tribute to the patriotisn*- */ and public services of tho deceased gentle- ■.• man, and the House adjourned at 3.15 till s 7.50 p.m. as a mark of respect to hia, memory. ' , .^|