LIBERALISING PENSIONS

Taranaki Daily News, 17 July 1929, Page 11

LIBERALISING PENSIONS

REFORM MEMBER’S VOTING. INCONSISTENCY ALLEGED. • (By Wire —Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night. Charges of voting one way and thinking another were not infrequent during the discussion on the report of the Pensione Department in the House of Representatives to-day. When Mr. Samuel was speaking he was subjected to interjections from the Government benches and caused some amusement by referring to the United Party back benches as “political lilliputians.” The member for Parnell, Mr. J. S. Fletcher lost no time in catching the eye of Mr. Speaker when Mr. Samuel resumed his so; t.

“I would rather be a ‘political lilliputian’ who believes something and votes that way than a Reform Party giant who thinks one way and votes another,” declared Mr. Fletcher. Government members: “Oh, who is this ?” Air. Fletcher: “The member for Thames.” Mr. Fletcher said that when during the last Parliament Mr. Parry, the member for Auckland Central, moved an amendment urging the liberalisation of the pensions laws, Mr. Samuel, with all the members of the Reform Party, voted against it. (Laughter.) Mi-. Samuel: Be fair. Give the reasons. Mr. Fletcher: Half an hour after the vote was taken Mr. Samuel rose in his seat and said he was in favour of liberalising the pension system. Later- in the debate, when Mr. S. G. Smith was quoting a letter from the Pensions Department to an applicant which he maintained was couched in language which should never have been written, Mr. Jones asked “when was that?” Mr. Smith replied: May 15, 1928. The Hon. T. M. Wilford (to Mr. Jones): That mis-fired somewhat, didn’t it? (Laughter.)