PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 53, 17 October 1911, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. (Per Press Association.) Wellington, October 16. Tiio House ol Representatives met at /.GO p.m. Hailwayrr.cn 's Potitior.. 'i he Him. ■>. .1. Miliar, ivpLing to .1 question ov .or. nine, sam Jie uu(loracood that riie tiovernmcnt liad been said to have changed its mind witn regard to too hearing of toe petition 01 toe second division of railivajmoii. mo Government Jiad not Changed its mind in the matted. In fact, tiie committee was ready now to go on with tiie second division and continue until sufficient. evidence had ocen hoard. Ine cause of the delay in the hearing of the first division petition was tnat every latitude nad ocen allowed, and witnesses had been brought by employees to give evidence on every point. The Department had to bring witnesses in a similar manner, and it wop Id do so throughout. It rested with the railwayrnen wlietlier the matter was finished this session or not. If the men sent witnesses on all points, the Department would have to do the same, and there would necessarily be delay. Replying to Mr. Wilford, Mr. Millar said the Railway Bill would be brought down in a couple of days. The Native Land Claims Bill was read a first time. Taupo Railway Question, Mr, Davey, Chairman of the Committee enquiring into the Taupo-To-tara Company’s petition, read a statement made in tne Rotorua paper by Mr. Raw, a member of the Rotorua Chamber of Commerce, in which it was stated that Rotorua had no friends in Parliament; that during the taking of evidence Mr. Dalzicll was allowed to interject by way of commentary on the statements of witnesses; also that Mr. McDonald had sounded the members of the House and called a mooting in relation to the enquiry and then set up a commission. Mr. Raw further stated that the report was a foregone conclusion. Mr. Davey said the statement that Mr. McDonald called a meeting of the House to discuss the petition and then set up a committee was absolutely false. Practically the whole statement was incorrect. Mr. MacDonald said he had asked a few members if they were willing to net on the eommiteo if nominated, nothing further. The Hon. T. Mackenzie said the Rotorua- Chamber of Commerce was politically biassed, and failed to recognise what had boon done. Nearing tha End. The Speaker announced that he had decided to allow Bill to ho put through all stages at one sitting. Amending the OhJ-ago Pensions Act. The Prime Minister moved the second reading of the Old-age Pensions Amendment Bill, the principal clause of which provides that where any person who being a male has reached the age of GO, or being a female 55 years, and has dependent on him or her two nr more children, shall he entitled to a pension, the amount of the pension to be as prescribed by the principal Act, with the addition of such sum not exceeding £l3 per annum, as the Magistrate in his discretion having regard to the circumstances of the case may determine. He stated that the scheme would cost some £IO,OOO a year. Extra rates on present pensions where there were dependents would bo increased by GO per cent., and the maximum pension would ho Csl per year. Mr. Fisher asked, thiit Imperial, pensions should he CNeriipt'under the Act. Mr. Wilford suggested that railway superannuation should apply in a- similar manner. Mr. Hogan thought the scheme should he extended to the indigent at GO. the blind, maimed, crippled, and deformed.

Sir Joseph Ward, in reply, said the question of applying tho system to railway men who were superannuated was all a matter of money. Last year the scheme had cost £380,000. This year the expenditure would be over C‘400,000, ulus fob.OOO for pensions to widows. The Bill was an enormous advance in the legislation dealing with pensions. Wellington. October 17. After midnight the Bill was read a second time. The Public Works Statement was laid on tho table, and Sir Joseph Ward fixed Wednesday for the debate on this and tho Loan Bill. The Premier moved the second reading of the Widows’ Pension Bill, the mainspring of which was the saving of children as an asset for the State. Tho scheme, Sir Joseph said, would cost the whole of £55,000, and would he money well spent. Mr. Alien hoped the Bill would go on tho statute-book. The Bill was read a second time.

Sir Joseph Ward moved the second reading of tho State-Guarantee Advances Bill, the chief clause of_ which provided power for raising £750,000 per annum for assisting workers to build homes.

The second reading was agreed to. The Christchurch District Drainage Amendment Bill and the Shipping and Seamen’s Amendment Bill were reported, the latter with minor amendments.

Tho Rating Amendment Bill was then considered in Committee. After 2 a.m., on the Rating Amendment Bill, sub-clause 2 of clause 2 provides that a poll may he taken before applying the unimproved rating system to rates. The Minister moved to make the clause obligatory by inserting the words “Shall on receipt of petition signed by 15 per cent, of the ratepayers take a poll.” This was carried, and the Bill reported. The Laud and Income Tax Bill was put through without amendment, and the Death Duties Amendment Bill considered. Mr. Allen called for a division on a proposal to repeal the provision in tho existing law which exempts from duty small gifts, which was rejected liv 2:) to li.

"Mr. Allen held that the proposal to exempt gifts up to £IOOO was not a concession, there being provision in tho existing law to exempt gifts up to £SOO if made six months before death.

Tho Bill was reported. The Dublin Works Bill was considered and reported. The following Bills wore read a third time and passed :—Christchurch Drainage, Shipping and Seamen, Rating Amendment, Land and Income Tax. SV'ar’n Duties Amendment, and Public Works Amcndmunt. The House adjourned at 3.15 a.m.