PARLIAMENTARY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIII, Issue 14349, 15 November 1910, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY.

Per Press Association. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. WELLINGTON", Nov. li The Council met at 2.30 p.m. VARIOUS MEASURES. The following Bills passed by the House were read a first time:—New Zealand Loans Amendment, Old Age Pensions, and Licensing- Amendment. Dr Findlay moved that the Standing Orders be relaxed in ordsr to allow tlie second reading cif the Licensing Bill to be taken in the evening, which was agreed to. Seventeen local Bills passed by the House on Saturday were read a first time, and referred to the Commit-too.

The Local Bodies Loans Amendment Bill was passed through committee with, machinery amendments. . In committee, the Taranaki Scholarship Endowment Bill was amended by adding a proviso to clause 12 that the term of any renewable lease shall not exceed 33 years. The Local Bodies Loans Act Amendment Bill was .read a third time and passed.

NATIONAL PROVIDENT FUND. The National Provident Fund Bill was taken in committee. Mr Jenkinson asked if the Bill was intended to apply only to persons in receipt of income. His point was that a youth over 16 who might uot have been earning any income previously could join the fund as the Bill was drafted. He was totally against •providing for people who were well able to provide for themselves, and this was the class which the Bill would chiefly benefit. Mr Sinclair said the system was designed so as to encourage youths to join the fund as early as possible. A young man might be earning a good salary ai 25 and have lost it at 27. Dr Findlay said the main burden thrown on the fund was maternitv and sick assistance. If at -the time of application for maternity or sick allowance the claimant's income exceeded £2OO, he would not get assistarc6, so that the fund was safeguarded. It was impossible to have a workable scheme which would exclude men whose incomes subsequent to joining exceeded the limit laid down in the Bill. At clause 12. Mr .Jenkinson suggested that a provision should be added that no pension shall be paid to a pensioner when his annual income exceeds £'2oo a year. Dr Findlay said such an amendment would kill the Bill. He did not think there would be an excessive tie sire on the part of people to join the fund, and no man would join the fund under the conditions proposed by Mr •Teukinson. No such provision was to be found in the Continental systems. Clause 18 was amended by limiting the allowance to married women oii account of birth to residents of New Zc.iland. The Rill was reported wit-li amendn ents. GAMING BILL. The debate on the second reading of tho Gaining Amendment Bill wns resumed by Mr Rigg, who gave Ins opinion on gambling, -which be considered was only bad when carried to fxcess. He deprecated the action of the clergy in taking part in politics, and said people would resist the r,tteu;pt to re.vive Puritanism in the DoTninson. He advocated the use of common sense in dealing with gambling. Parliament- ought to endeavour to regulate the ©vil rather thrn to suppress it. The debnte was adjourned at 5 30 p.m., and the ComicS restrmed at 7.30 SECOND READINGS. The Second Reading of the Licensing Bill was nassed. ~ The Harbour Amendment Bill ni>d PuVV Revenues Bill were read a Second time. SECRET COMMISSIONS. The Secret Service Bill was committed at clause 5 which deals with the (duty of agents to disclose \lipj r pecuniarv interest in a contract). Dr Findlay said it would no* i.° necessary to disclose such tVnzs r:s jH-image, and moved an amendment to tnni. effect, which was agreed to BJI was reported as amended. BELL DISCHARGED. Hie Law Practitioners Biil was discharged from The order paper The Council rose at 10.15 p.m.