PARLIAMENTARY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7236, 24 October 1901, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

aHOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday, Oct. 23. EVENING SITTING. OLD AGE PENSIONS. After the Telegraph Office closed this morning, the Old Age Pensions Act Amendment Bill was further considered in committee. On the Premier's motion, Clause 6 was amended to read as follows:— If on. the death of any pensioner or of the wife or husband of any pensioner, ifc is found that he or either of them was possessed of property in excess of what is allowed by the law in respect of the amount of the pension granted, double the amouflt of the pension at any time paid in excess of that to which the pensioner was 'by law entitled may be recovered as a debfc due to the Crown from the estate bo found in excess, provided this section shall not apply to cases in which the husband and wife are legally separated. The remaining clauses were passed without material amendment. Mr Guinness, on behalf of Major Steward, moved a new clause, providing that Imperial or colonial war pensions shall not be calculated as part of a claimant's in<* come. The Premier raised the point that this proposal involved appropriation, and could only be introduced by Governor's message Major Steward upheld the objection, and ruled the clause oufc of order. Mr Rhodes proposed a new clause to provide that when a pension was reduced because of the applicant receiving an excess of income, such reduction should nob take effect after the period during which the income exceeds the amount prescribed. The Premier agreed that this was a necessary amendment, and at his suggestion a proviso was added to Clause 5 to stipulate that when the excess of income ceased the pension should be immediately restored to its original amount. ' Mr Rhodes then withdrew his amendment. . * Mr G. W. Russell moved a new clause, as* follows:— -In the assessing of the net capital value of accumulated property under Section- 10 of the prircipal Act, each applicant shall be allowed, in addition to the £50 therein provided, the value to a sum not exceeding £100 of any house and land bona fide owned and occupied by him. Major Steward upheld an objection that this was an appropriation clause, and ruled it out of order. Mr Ell expressed a hope that the electors would note the manner in which the powers of members were being whittled away by the decisions of the Chair. Tlie Bill was reported and put through its final stages. LOCAL BODIES. The Local Bodies, Goldfields, Public Works and Loans Bill was passed through committee without amendment, and read a third time and passed. STATE COAL-MINES. The committal of the State Coal-mines Bill was set down for to-day. The House rose at 2.40. a.m.