LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Southland Times, Issue 9004, 4 September 1885, Page 3

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

' Wellington, Sept. 3. \ The Council met at 2.30 p.m. ! The ad joarneddebate was resumed upon the question that the following resolution be agreed to :— That in establishing [a system of relief for the aged and indigent poor it is expedient that it should be conducted by Boards elected by the contributors; that the funds to be administered should. ,be derived ". itpiia:^^dowmentii, voluntary 'jontributibnijjifgd^effjaiacl^sjab-, sidies frcm the StaVe, but ttfat ncf special rate shall be leviable for this purpose. ■■ s7x Sir-jK. moved that all the .■yKords pf^thoi resolution after "that" be omitted, sith a view to insert the following words: " in establishing a. system o]fcharitable aid a clearly defined dietinctio'n" should be drawn between involuntary and voluntary pauperism, and with that object provision should be made for relieving the aged, helpless, and destitute, chiefly in kind; (2), nd ''relief should b 6; given to tbjose able to Work,; but :in cases of necessity work should be f diind' f or tnem at a rate of wages not exceeding one- half the .ordinary wages of the .district ; (3), onethe fuads necessary,: after deducting tvoluntary, coitributioris,, &c, should be provided by" a rate and the other half for the present by a contribution from the Consolidated Fond ; (4), the funds should be administered by local Boards, who should also levy the rates. After a lengthy discussion the debate was interrupted by the 5 o'clock adjournment. A : •

Evening Sitting.

„. The debate on the^ q^aeetion of charitable aid was resumed, when both the resolutions of committee and of Sir F. Whitaker were'rejec'ted. by 21 to 8. The following bills were received from the' House of Repressntatives and read a first time : — Mortgage Debentures Batiag, and Auckland Railway Laud Oompensa-; tion Bit's. The Hospital and Charitable Institutions Bill was committed, reported with amendments, and ordered to be recommitted. The second reading of the Land Bill was agreed to on the voices. The Council adjourned at 11.5 p.m.