EVENING SITTING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6553, 2 August 1899, Page 1

EVENING SITTING.

The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. NEW MEMBER. Mr J. Hutcheson, the newly-elected member for Wellington City, was introduced by Mr Kelly and Mr Smith, and took the oath and his seat. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. : The House wenf into Committee of Supply, when thd\ Colonial Treasurer' read the Financial Statement. . • At the conclusion of the delivery of the Statement, Mr Sed-don was applauded, i On tut; first item, Legislative Council, £1870, , being reached, progress was reported. . ACCIDENT INSJJRANCE. On the motion to go into Committee on the Government Accident Insurance Bill, the Premier said that the Workmen's Compensation Bill, which had passed another place, and the Accident Insurance Bill were in sympathy. The Bill was designed to undertake accident insurance business as a branch of t!he business of the Government Life Insurance Department. Provision was mode far raising-" a cap jtal of £25,000 by means of debentar.es. , That sum was considered to be amply suffioient for the purpose. Looking at the policies issued by some of the companies doing business in the colony, they were not worth . the paper they were printed on as security to the person insured.'. Under the Bill the premiums would be reduced, and all business would be kept within the colony. Mr Duthie said that the Premier had failed to show that the Government was justified in entering upon lihe class oJ business indicated. He objected to the Government Life Insurance branch being loaded with such a class of business. By the system of financing the Government Life Department could not show as good results as priva-te offices. Mr Lewis said that he hoped that the Government would not press .the Bill until the Workmen's Compensation Bill had been considered. " Captain Russell said that he declined to believe that there . was any necessity for oj^sraf ting •on to the Government Life InHBHBftnce Department such a scheme as fcha.fc HBB^MK:^ in the Bill. He read a list of B^HBBfces that had started accident insur-

ance business in Ausralia, Avhich 'had lost their capital and had ceased to do business. He would not oppose the Bill, but urged 'caution in ' regard to premiums. , Mr Smith said that the question was one mainly of insurance rates. Premiums had recently been so reduced thai, ifc became a question whether it would pay the Government to enter into competition with companies already doing business. He objected to -the Government Life Insurance Department being saddled with, the system, but would support the Bill mainly on the ground that it might tend to reduce the rates charged by private offices. .. Mr Hogg contended that the Bill would alike be a protection to workmen' and an "advantage to employers, Mr Fi.fher supported the Bill, ' oh the ground that it would', be in the interests 'of the. workmen. , Mr M'Qbwah' said that he thought that the State guarantee proposed to be given would ensure the success, of the scheme. Mr Pirani supported the Bill. - Mr Taylor said that the Bill was suggested by an Act passed by the. lmperial Parliament some time ago by a Conservative Government. The Workmen's Compensation Act passed by a Conservative Government in England was fifty per cent in advance of anything passed in New Zealand. Mr Crowther said that he did not think that, the Government could run the scheme cheaper than private enterprise. Mr Sligo and. the Hon W. J. Steward supported the Bill. The Hon W. Hall-Jones having replied, the House Went into committee on the Bill. . Progress was ■reported, and the House rose at 10.40 p.m.