PARLIAMENTARY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 11340, 5 October 1898, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NEW ZUALAND. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tuesday, October 4. -The Hon. the Speaker took the chair at 2.30 p.m. The Native Interpreters' Classification Bill was read a third time, and the second reading of the McLean Motor Car Bill was agreed to. The Lunatics Act Amendment Bill passed through Committee, an addition beiug made giving relatives permission to apply to the Courts for the appointment of a supervisor of an estate. A clause provi ling for the repeal of sections 265 and 266 of the Act of 1882 was struck out. In Committee on the Gaming and Lotteries Act Amendment Bill, an amend ment was made in Clause 4 -that the notice to be given by the police to the occupier of suspected premises must be m writing. A long discussion took place on clause 5, its meaning not being clear to a number of members. Eventually iho Ministers agreed to report progress. The Council rose at 4.10 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Tuesday October 4. -The Speaker took the chair at 2 30 p m. Seveial returns were laid on tbe table, one which showed that the cost of" the map which was recently citcu ated with i Hansard was £33 5, 4d. Captain Rutsell asked the Piemier what business he intended going on with during the remainder of the session, and also if he would give the House an indN cation as to what bills were absolutely essential. # J Mr Sedd'on said that this week he hoped to be able to get through with the Old Age Pensions Bill and one or two other bills. At the commencement of next wefk he would be in a better position to indicate what business he considered necessary. He would give the Houbb an opportunity of dealing with the question of appointment of officers of tho House, and would probably bring down a resolution in the direction of giving effect to what was evidently the wish of the majority. In reply to a further question by Captain Russell, Mr feddon intimated that the Government must take the renponsibi'ityin connection with the report of the Police Commission, and that before the Police Department Estimates were dealt with the Minister for Justice would indicate to ihe House what the Government intended doing. Mr Tanner brought up the report of the Joint Library Committee, objecting to the proposal that the new Parliamentary Library Buildings sh.U be two stories instead of three. Mr Ward asked what members of the Committee had agreed to this report, as the subject of expenditure on this building had been the subj ct of a noconfidence motion. Messrs Fraser, Buchanan, and others asserted that the Opposition haAobjacted not to the expenditure on the building, but to the Government exceedicg the amount voted by Parliament for the purpose. Mr Hogg moved that the report be referred back in order that they might indicate their reasons for their recommendation. Captain Russell considered that there was necessity for further accommodation for committees, and advocated the completion of tbe building according to the original plans. After further discussion, Mr Seddon remarked on the different attitude of the Opposition with respect to tbe expenditure on the Parliamentary Buildings, and pointed out that when he was reported as having said money was no object with respect to these buildings what followed that remark h d not been reported, which was :—": — " In comparison with the necessity there existed for ensuring the safety of oue-of the most important libraries south of the Line " The Minister for Lands considered that a two-storey building would be quite sufficient to meet present requirements. After other members had spoken, the debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. On resuming at 7.30 the Old Age Pensions Bill was further considered in Committee. Clause 47, imprisonment for breaches " "of the Act.— After a thort discussioD, an .amendment moved by Mr J. Allen that the period of irnprsonment be six instead of three months was agreed to. On the motion of Mr Seddon, "pros vision was made for punishment of a person who, by wilful fa'se statements, aids and abets another in obtaining a pension. — r i h« clause was agreed to. After a lengthy discussion on several amendments proposed to Clause 48 (additional powcrj of the Court when convicting) the clause was agreed to with slight amendment." Clause 49, additional penalty for certain offences.- Op the motion of Mr Seddon, the clause was amended to provide that not less than one uor more than three monthly pension instalments may be dedncted in cases whore a pensioner is convicted of drunkennt s < or any offence punishable by not less than six months' imprisonment. Considerable objection was ~ taken to punishment of drunkenness oa the part of a pensioner, and Mr Taylor suggested that a similar procedure to that adopted with respt cr, to- the issue of prohibition ordeis shou'd be followed with respect to pensioners who spent their pensions in drink, but who, perhaps, would never be convictedof <irunkenneßß. Mr Sedoou considered that in such cases as those mentioned by Mr Taylor tbe pension should not be paid to the pensioner, but to some one else for his benefit. The clause was amended to provide that where a pensioner misspends or wastes hi* or her estate, hiß or her pension instalment shall be payable to a clergyman, Justice of the Peace, or other reputable person for the benefit of the pensioner.- The clause was then agreed to Clauses 50 to 55 were agreed to unaltered, and progress was reported. r l he Hoveu <c adjourned ac 120 a m.