BUSINESS OF PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, 17 July 1929, Page 11

BUSINESS OF PARLIAMENT

NOTICE.OF NEW BILLS GIVEN PREMIER ANSWERS QUESTIONS. REPORT ON PENSIONS SUBMITTED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Petitions presented in the House of Representatives to-day included one for the abolition of capital punishment and three for amendments of the Gaming Act.

The Hon. W. A. Veitch gave notice of his intention to introduce a Rent Restriction Continuance Bill (No. 2). Notice was given by Mr. W.'E. Parry of his intention to introduce a Miners’ Phthisis Bill. Mr. J. McCombs notified his intention lo introduce a Lyttelton Harbour Board Reclamation Validation Bill.

‘ Mr. Veitch gave notice to move that in the opinion of the House provision should 'be made for the general observance of Saturday as the statutory halfholiday and the weekly half-holiday of shop assistants. Sir Joseph Ward, replying to Mr. J. O’Brien, said he had seen the statement that the Mount Cook Motor Company intended to institute a chain of hostels and motor services throughout New Zealand. He said the Government had no control over any private company but, on the other hand, no private company would be permitted to obtain a monopoly of tourist traffic and would be advised to reconsider any proposals in that direction.

Replying to Mr. P. Fraser, Sir Joseph Ward said the Government subsidy for the Wairau River Board’s relief works would be withdrawn if it was shown that the wages being paid wereonly 9s per day for single men and 12s for married men. Sir Joseph informed Mr. D. G. Sullivan that the Government could not grant a fl for fl subsidy for all local expenditure on unemployment as requested by the Mayors of the four centres. It could do no more than grant a £25,000 subsidy for expenditure on wages already promised. REVIEW OF PENSIONS. Mr. Veitch presented the report of the 'Pensions Department. Mr. A. M. Samuel criticised the pensions system and asked foi’ certain alterations, including an attempt to arrange reciprocity in old age pensions throughout the Empire and an improvement in the conditions for the blind and for incapacitated miners and returned soldiers.

The Hon. T. M. Wilford said he thought there would' be no difference of opinion that the whole pensions system ehould be reviewed. His department was concerned with certain aspects mentioned by Mr. Samuel, and he assured him that the Government was by no means inactive in the matter.

Mr. W. E. Parry said that as the Primo Minister had interjected that the Government had its legislation ready, discussion on such subjects as pensions should be left till the Budget debate so that the House could get on with the legislation. He personally would like to speak on the subject but, important though it was, he felt there was a more urgent call on the time of the House. . T c . Messrs Makitanara, A. Harris, J. S. Fletcher, H. S. S. Kyle, S. G. Smith (who asked for the restoration of the registrar of pensions for Taranaki), H. Holland and T. W. McDonald carried on the debate, citing cases in which they stated injustice had 'been done and recommending alterations in the legis-

lation. Mr. E. J. Howard joined with Mr. Parry in a plea that the debate should •be ended, but said he wished to take the opportunity to emphasise two points. He considered the legislation on pensions did not represent the will of the House, and urged the cessation of the practice of the police in visiting old age pensioners in uniform to investigate cases. WHY PROLONG DISCUSSION ? Mr. H. E. Holland said he could not understand why the paper had been presented before the debate on the Address-In-Reply was completed. The Government appeared to be in favour of every change suggested. The Labour Party tvas pledged to support them and the Reform Party was seemingly now in (favour of the changes which it had neglected to put into operation while it held office. Surely it was not necessary to prolong the discussion of the •subject on which • there appeared to be unanimity. Mr. Veitch, in reply, said it would have been impertinent for the Government to dictate to the House that there should have been no discussion on the paper. The pensions system had been improved from time to time, and while anomalies still existed there were not as many as formerly, and as a . result •of the representations of individual members he hoped Shat eventually every anomaly would be removed and they •would have a pensions system of which New Zealand might 'be proud. The Minister said he had been corresponding on the subject of pensions reciprocity with Britain and Australia, but no finality had yet been reached. The ideal was, of course, Empire reciprocity, but tha.t at the present time was no more than an ideal. He would like to mention that if pensions, were increased in every direction indicated during the discussion the aggregate cost to the country would be astonishing. JTe considered invalids’ pensions among .•Hie most important, as in that case there was a call for the support. of the husband as well as of the family. (He considered the officers of the departanent carried out their duties systematically, but the difficulty was that they were bound by the letter of the jaw He would see if it were possible for 'the police on the occasion of visits to pensioners to wear mufti.