PRIVILEGE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2323, 8 September 1898, Page 25

PRIVILEGE.

Another Hansard row came up this after- ' noon in the form of a question of breach of | privilege, Captain Russell moving that the ] fact that a large mass of statistical tables ; and other matter Avhich had not been read in j tho House had been inserted in the Premier's j speech in Hansard on the Financial State- ! ment was a breach of privilege. The Pre- ] 'mier denied the assertion made by the leader i of the Opposition. The Deputy-Speaker said . he could not rule, in view of the conflicting j "statements. Captain Russell's motion in its present form Avas out of order. The matter -should be referred to a committee to decide the question of fact and to hear evidence. The Premier moved to add to Captain Rus- j sell's motion that the committee also make j • inquiries concerning the tables inserted by j Messrs Moore, Scobie Mackenzie, M'Nab,-> • Duthie, G. Hutchison, Cadman, and others. M." Seddon Avas proceeding to drag other names from Hansard, when Mr Crowther interjected that one -half of Hansard appeared to be incorrect and the J other half stuffing. When the question came to be stated to the House, the Deputy-Speaker found himself in a hopeless tangle. Captain Russell denied that he had moA'ecl any motion referring the question to a committee, and protested against the Premier's proposed addition. The Acting-Speaker said he understood the leader of the Opposition had accepted his (the Acting-Speaker's) suggestion that the matter should be referred to a committee. Captain Russell: "No." The Act-ing-Speaker: "I ruled your first motion out \ of order." Captain Russell: "Then give it ! Tmck to me" (taking his motion aAvay). It ! Avas then found that there Avas no motion | before the House, and after further discus- i sion the Premier agreed to withdraw bis porposed motion, or amendment. Ab Captain Russell took no further action, the Acting- ' Speaker was about to proceed to the next "i'-.siness, Avhen Mr Fraser and others Avhose 1 ";nes had been mentioned rose in protest ; .linst the Premier's allegations going into aneard, while they had no chance of replyor. The Acting-Speaker got over this diffi\ty by stating that nothing would appear tho journals, and that he Avould see that o discussion was not inserted in Hansard. -. It ROLLESTON'S OLD-AGE PENSION SCHEME. r r Rolleston, speaking on the Old Age . Pensions Bill to-night, gave his ideas of the lines on which the bill should be drafted. He "would not, however, move an amendment, • but he hoped that when the bill was in Committee his suggestions Avould be adopted. His ideas were: — (1) That the necessity for making provision for old age. sickness, and fndigence by a Echeme of pensions, simultaneously • with an amended system of charitable aid, Avhich Avill deal Avith poA'erty and misfortune upon -well-defined, principles, demands the earnest and immediate attention of the Legislature ; (2) that the proposals of the Old Age Pensions which fix the age of 65 as that at Avhich pensions may be claimed under the conditions imposed by the bill, Avould leave a very large number of the working classes engaged m mining and insanitary occupations unprovided lor, and fail of attaining the objects of the measure; (3) that the conditions attached to the granting of pensions under the bill are not such as to promote self-reliance and encourage the population of the country in making due efforts to secure competence and independence in old age, and would be at once demoralising to the community and unjust to the industrious taxpayer; (4) that old-age pensions should form part of a general scheme dealing Avith the proA'isions to be made by the Legislature — (a) to assist and encourage those capable of helping themselves to secure a competence to old age on a basiß of contribution to a provident fund, and (b) to place the administration of what is called the charitable aid laAv in respect to those unable to help themselves on a more just and equitable basis by classification, according to the merits and varying circumstances of the recipients of State assistance ; (5) that old-age pensions should be granted as supplementary to, and contingent upon, the recipients having earned an allowance by contributing in earlier years to a pension fund as members of a friendly society, trades union, or private company approved of by the Government as a solvent institution, the contribution being paid in accordance with tables (actuarially) prepared, sick allowance would then be supplemented by tii.- 3 Siad 3 to pufh an extent as to bring llu* tot tl prn ion. rhe |oint result of the beneficiaries' own cft'oi^a :«nd the supplemental v iis^i .lance of U'O Slate, to a total of, say, ten ahiUmgn uv week ; (6) that the

scope of the Government Life Insurance department should be extended, and tables constructed under which pensions may be earned, A'arying 4Fith the as?e at which they are claimed on an acturial basis, and supplemented by the State ; (7) that tables should also be prepared under which contributions made in early years may earn an annuity to be supplemented within certain limits by the State ; (8) that the system of penny savings banks, for which provision was made in "The Education Act, 1877," be revived and encouragement offered by this means to thrift and piwidence ; (9) that connected Avith old-age pensions a system of cottage homes be instituted by which provision Avill be made for the reception of pensioners under the supervision of the local authorities or charitable agencies.