PARLIAMENTARY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 11342, 7 October 1898, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NEW ZEALAND. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. TnuRSDAY, October 6 — The Hon. the Speaker took the chair at 2 30 p.m. The Lunatics Act Amendment Bill was read a third time and pats 3d. The Shearers' Accommodation Bill was considered in Committee, and several verbal amendments made on tbe recommendation of the Labour Bills Committee. Clause 8 (separate sleeping accommodation to be provided for Chinamen) gave rise to some discussion, but was retained by 21 to 14. The Minister for Education moved in clause 11 the exemption of sheds from the operation of the Act where shearers provide their own accommodation, but on division the section was added to the Bill by 28 to 6. The Bill was then reported, and the third reading made an Order of the Day for next sitting. Bdfore the committal of the Gaming and Lotteries Act Amendment, the Speaker gave bis ruling on the reserved point of whether the Council could discuss the Hon. G. Jones' motion involving the abolition of tbe totalieator, deciding in the affirmative. Mr Jones then proceeded with his argument in support of the proposition, condemning the continued use of the machine, as tending to increase the gambling evil. After debate, tho motion was negatived by 22 to 11. The following was the division list :—: — Ayes (for the motion) : Scotland, Jones, McCullough, Stewart, Arkwright, J«nkinson, Shrimski, Jennings", MacOregor, Bolt, Montgomery. Noes (against the motion) : L. Walker, Richardson, Bonar, Harris, Barnicoat, Swanson, W. Kelly, Kerr, Rigg, TomoaDa, Twomey, Ormond, Pinkerton, Bonar, Stevens, Johnston, Oliver, Grace, McLean, Bolt, Feldwick, W. O. Walker. The third reading of the Bill was then get down for next day. The Council rose at 4.40 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Thursday, October 6. — The Speaker took the chair at 2 30 p.m. Mr Graham moved that a breach of privilege had been committed by the New Zealand Herald in stating that the Committee which is considering the Auckland Electric Lighting Bill was dealing wibh it on strictly party lines. Negatived' by 34 to 28. Mr Seddon proposed to lay on the table of the House a paper relating to secondary education. Mr Taylor asked if it were intended to give the House an opportunity this session of dealing with the Technical Education Bill. He con-idered it was wrong to keep the Bill back because the Premier could not get the House to agree to clauses in it which were a deliberate tampering with the present education system. Mr Seddou denied that the clause indicated had been drafted by a person interested in private schools, nor bad they been drafted in the interests of such schools. The Minister for Education, when preparing the Bill, bad consulted •with Mr Riley, head of the Wellington Technical School, who had show* the Bill to the Chairman of the Wellington Education Board. For party purposes the sectarian question had been referred to last session, and had it not been for this the Bill would now have been in operation. The best way now to promote tbe Bill was to further the business of the country by preventing the Old Age Pensions Bill being blocked. The paper was hid on the table. The Old Age Pensions Bill was farther considered in Committee. Clause 62 (regulations). On the "notion of Mr Herries, and after a short discussion, a provision was inserted declaring that the regulations are to be laid on the table of the House ten days after the commencement of a session, and referred to any Committee the House may direct. The clause was agreed to. Clause 63 (to wh< tn the Act is not to apply). Mr Wi Pere moved to strike out of the clause reference to aboriginal natives of New Zealand to whom pensions are paid under the Civil List Act. He considered that it would be better to give poor natives land than to give them a pension. Mr Kaihan pointed out that laad could not be worked by Maoris who were 65 years of age. A lengthy discussion ensued, in which several members contended there should be no difference made between Europeans and natives. Ultimately Mr Wi Pere withdrew his amendment, which was then re : moved by Mr G. Hutchison. .The amendment was under discussion at 5 30 p.m. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m., when the discussion on Mr Hutchison's amendment was resumed. Mr Seddon urged that the good f eeliug now existing in the colony between natives and Europeans should not be •trains 1 by making any distinction between them as to the rights of the old age pensions. Eventually Mr Hutchison's amendment was negatived by 44 to 21. Mr Seddon then moved that the Act «hall not apply to any natives to whom tnoneya other than pensions are paid out of sums appropriated for natives by the Civil List Act.— Agreed to on the voices. Sub-clauße 2 (the Act not to apply to naturalised subjects unless naturalised for five years preceding pension clause). — Mr R. Thompson moved to make the period ten years. Mr Seddon urged that the period of five years was a "very fair one. — The amendment was negatived by 49 to 16. Mr Taylor moved to strike out sub-clatree-4, which prevented Chinese or other Asiatics from receiving a pension, whether- naturalised or not. He could not see why Chinese or Asiatics who had resided in the colony twen<y-five years should be debarred from a pension. — Negatived by 46 to 18, and the clause passed, v Clause 64 (the Act toapply to aboriginal natives of N^w Zealand). — Mr Monk moved the following proviso: "But in dealing with snch native claims, their social and domestic customs shall not be corjjidered detrimental, the provisions of the Act notwithstanding." The object of tbis waa to deal with such cases as Maoris who are married according to native custom, but not as Europeans marry. '. Mr Seddon claimed th*t the amendment Went* further than stated. *It might be claimed that drunkenness was a native custom.- The amendment was negatived. Clause 64 was then passed ; also clauses 65 and 66, machinery clauets^ which were the last clause? in the Bill. The clauses postponed on previous occasions were th>.n considered. Clause 26 (deciuion of a Stipendiary Magistrate as to ma-ters disproved to be final) was passed, and clause 31 (making the issue of a pension certificate annual) Was agreed to without debate Clause 43 (provision where pensioner is in receipt of charitable aid). Mr Herrits moved to include lunatic asylums .among tbe institutions where, if a pensioner is a occupant, his pension may be used for his maintenanca. Mr Seddon s.id this meant tbe Government: paying money to themselves. The amendment was lost on the voices, and the clause passed. j Mr Massey moved to add a n<*w clause enabling any person over 65 years of ago possessing real estate worth £500 or over to purchase an annuity from tbe Government Life Insurance Department, and to occupy such property, if he so desired, at a reasonable rental. - Mr Seddon objected to the amendment, as being foreign to the Rill, Captain Russell said it wan only foreign because the Act was a charitable aid Act. They should encourage persons ■who were able to purchase annnitk'B Mr Hogg claimed that it was interfere log with tbe Government Insurance Department.

Mr J. Allen supported tbe clause as being a direct encourac;TM »t of thrift. The Chairman ruled dia clause out of order, as having nothiug to do with old age pensions. Mr G Hutchison moved anew clause providing the method of determining the claim of any aboriginal native so far as tha same may be affected by the right to any income or property he may hold.— Agreed to. Mr Moore moved a new clause to provide that the pension year shall end on the 31st March in each year.— After discussion, this waa negatived by 32 to 25. • Mr G. Hutchison moved a new clause providing special consideration to members of friendly societies, registered trade unions, benefit societies, or policy-holders in the Government Life Insurance Department. A point of order was raised, and it was objected that this clav e would increase the amount payable under the pension scheme. It was contended that it was tho intention of the clause to subsidise members of friendly societies and policy* holders in the Governm nt Life Insnrsurance Department. The Chairman held that the clause was not an appropriation one, nor was it foreign to the intention of the Bill. New clauses providing for a contributory scheme, for the Act coming into operation after a Referendum on it, and for the Act coming into operation on first January next, were negatived. Several amendments to the preamble were negatived and ultimately agreed to. Progress was reported and the House adjourned at 1.20 a.m.