LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6048, 8 December 1897, Page 4

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Tuesday, Dec. .7. AFTERNOON SITTING. The Council met at 2.30.pan. OLD-AOE PEITSIONS. The Hon W. Montgomery gave.notice of moving, when the motion for the second reading of the Old-age Pensions Bill should come on, that the CJotmcil, while approving of the principle of the Bill, was of opinion that the N money required for the payment of such pensions should be appropriated annually by Parliament. The Hon J. A. Bonar objected to the motion, as the Bid Avas not before .the. Council. The Speaker upheld this Objection, and asked Mr Montgomery to give notice subsequently. The Old-age Pensions Bill was then received from the Lower House and read a first time. Tlie Hon J. A. Bonar then gave notice of .moving, when the motion tor the second reading came on —" That the Bill be laid aside for the following reasons: That the country has had no opportunity of considering the scope and. operation of the Bill, including its bearing on existing Benefit Societies j. that the financial provision ior giving eit'ecfc to the Bill is un-J satisfactory, aad that the measure has not been based* on caret' ully prepared estimates' or actuarial calculations; that the Bill is practically a form of charitable relief open to the risk of great injustice in administration, and should'be considered with the whole question of charitable aid." The motion for the second, reading was set down for to-morrow. HAAVERA GASWOEKS. The Hawera Gasworks and Electric Jjighting Bill was introduced .and read a .first time. •WAGES PROTECTION. In moving the second reading of the Wages Protection Bill, the Minister of Education said that compared Avith the Bill of last year, this measure Avas much reduced in volume. If the second reading was agreed to the Bill would be sent to the Labour Bills Committee. The Hon E. C. J. Stevens thought that' there was nothing in the Bill. The clauses that had been inserted in the Bill by the Council last year had been rejected, and other clauses that were rejected by the Council last year had been reinserted. The Hon J. Eigg supported the measure as a very necessary one. The Hon R. Oliver moved that the Bill should be read that day three months. The insurance clause in the Bill was entirely unnecessary, and a direct interference with freedom of contract. The Hon W. T. Jennings urged Mr Oliver to withdraw the amendment and allow the Bill to go to the Committee. The Hon R. Oliver assented aud Avithdrew. the amendment. Continuing, Mr Jenningssaid that many -workmen held the opinion that it was wrong that money should be deducted from their wages for insurance rates. Many of the men were already insured. The Hon J. Kekr supported the second reading. The Hon C. C. Bowen could see no reason why a distinction should be drawn in the Bill between the Government and -ther employers. The Hon J. Macgregor said that he had not heard of any reason. justifying the introduction of the Bill. After further discussion the Minister of Education said that to talk of the breaking of freedom of contract was to talk a dead language, i'l-eeuom of contract had built up every devildom the world had ever seen. (A voice : " Every industry, too.") The second reading was agreed to by 25 toll. The following is the division list: — Ayes (25) :—Hons Arkwright, Baillie, Barnicoat, Bolt, r eldwick, Grace, Harris, Jenkinson, Jennings, Johnston, Jones, T. Kelly, W. Kelly, Kerr, M'Cnllough, Montgomery, Ormond, Pinkerton, Reeves, Rigg, Scotland, Smith, Swanson, W. C. Walker and Williams. Noes (11) : Hons Eonar,'Bowen, Holmes, Kenny, Macgregor, M'Lean, Oliver, Reynolds, Shrimski, Stevens and L. Walker. LAND VALUATION. The adjourned debate on the question of laving on the table a copy of the memorandum for valuers issued under the Government Valuation of Land Act was continued and concluded, the motion being agreed to. DEFAMATION. , The Defamation Bill was considered in committee. At Clause 13, the sub-section allowing newspapers to publish in good .faith a fair report of the proceedings of public meetings was debated at length, the Hon G. M'Lean ultimately moving to report progress and ask leave to sit again. This was carried by 13 to 11, and further consideration of the Bill was deferred till Tuesday next. At 4.30 p.m. the Council adjourned,