GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Waikato Argus, Volume IX, Issue 766, 28 September 1900, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Thk Council met at 2.30 p.m. SHOPS AND OFFICES BILL. On the motion of the Hon. Mr Bonar the Sin ps and Offices Bill was reccm* mitted, and Clause 43, which empowurs the Governor to make teguUtious undtr the Act, was amended, the power to impose penalties being withdrawn. The Bill was then read a tiiird time and passed. PUBLIC HEALTH BILL. The Public Health Bill was recommitted. Clause 65, dealing with the ovcrcrowdiog of houses, hotels, etc., was deleted, as being provided for in the " Municipal Corporations Bill." Iq Clause 73 it was resolved by 17 voles to 13 that lor purposes of the Act a nuisance shall be deemed to exist when the drainage of any town or building fills into any harbour or on to any foreshore, so us to be offensive to the public or injurious to health. Clause 87 was amended, extending the power of entering a building for the inspection of meat or produce " that has recently been sold."

A sub-clause was added to Clause 101, providing that the by-laws made by a local authority under the Act may be enforced in the manner provided in the Local Governing Act. Under Clause 128 power was given to district health officers to release ships after quarantine without reference to the Minister. Clause 140, sub-section 1, was amended to provide that a public vaccinator must be a medical practitioner. The Bill was reported as amended, read a third time and passed. readings. The Municipal Corporation Bill was read a second time. The Charitable Aid Boards Bill was read a third time and passed. The Indictable Offences Bill, The Summary Jurisdiction Act Amendment Bill, The Local Bodins Loans Act Amendment Bill, The Inspection of Machinery Act Amendment Bill, The Slaughtering and Inspection Bill, and The Trading Stamps Abolition Bill passed their second readings. The Council rose at 9.50 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. YESTERDAY. The House met at '2.110 p.n<. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Leave of absence to Mr Horusby for one day was granted on account of illness, NEW ZEALAND liOONDARIKS, The Premier gave notice that he would introduce to-morrow a Bill extending the boundaries of the colony of New Zealand. OLD AGE PENSION AMENDMENT. The Premier moved the second reading of the Old Age Pension Act Amendment Bill. He explained that the Bill provided for an extension of the period of absence from the colony from two to four years before an applicant would be debarred from a pension. In the ca6C of a man living with his wife, who perhaps was in receipt of £';100 a year, such men would be disqualilied from a pension, and provisiou was also made for paving the pension up to the day of death" instead of a complete month. Provision further was made compelling Charitable Aid Boards to take into homes persons in receipt of a pensiou. These were the main features of the Bill, and he iutin.ated that he hoped no attempt would be made by members with a view of advertising themselves to widen the scope of pavmeut of the peusiou. If so he would appose it. Mr Lewis thought four years' absence from the colony should not be a disqualification for a peniion, and would propose an extension of time. Then if Charitable Aid Boards were to be compelled to take in old age pensioners to homes they might be taken in to the exchisiou of peopU who wer« not in receipt of the

pension. He disapproved al>o of «!iuna being entitled to the pension onu month ufter naturalisation, us these people hud all along decliued to become liiitoh subjects on account of its cut iilin« the performance of certain duties. He thought a separate institution for the ac.ominodation of pensioners would be in the interest of recipients. Mr Tanner objected to the Premier BtatiDg that those who advocated an increase were merely advertising themselves. He adgiitted that; the claims had exceeded anticipations, but still thought that the scope of the Act could, with advantage to deserving persons, be widened. _.„ Mr Buddo thought the scope of the L<ill Bhould be widened. Mr Fowlds said no Act would be complete unless the pension was made universal, as the present system led to a «reat deal of deception and dishonesty. Capt. Russell thought there was no necessity for passing an amending Kill this session, as the Act did not expire until after next session. Tho Bill extended the period iudefiuitely, at this period of the session was unwise. He had always contended thai there should bo some system of compulsory contribution to a fund, which would rob a pension of its charitable feature. ... , ' Mr Ward laid while thero w*s a good deal of force in the argumeut in favour of a compulsory system of contribution to a pension fund, in that case State aid could be done without altogether; but what was to be done with the large number who could not afford to contribute to such a fund, or who had been improvident in their younger days. They would still have claims on the State. It was true that a greater number of natives had come under the Act than was anticipated, so the amount required had exceeded anticipations. Theoretically the Pension Act should be universal, but the colony had to cut its coat according to its cloth, and while the Bill was not a perfect one it remedied some defects in the present measure. Mr Guinness had always advocated that the system of pension should be universal. The present pension system was simply a charitable dole. There had been some force in the financial aspect of the case ; but he was of opinion that the country could now stand the strain of a universal pension, which he asserted would not add more than £150,000. Mr Laurenson thought the addition of the amount required to make the pension universal could be obtained by increasing the Land Tax and lowering the exemption, from £3OO to £'2oo on the Income Tax. Mr Cullinß would like to see a universal pension ; bub thought the financial problem was in the way. He was of opinion that the original proposed that twenty years' residence and sixty years' age, as a qualification for a pension, should have been adopted. While he would like to see the Customs duties reduced, he would prefer to maintain them at the present rate, so that the scope of the old age pension could be extended. Mr Wilford defended the application of the pension to natives, who at present were disqualified if they held an interest in an undivided block of laud. He up proved of the Bill generally and congratulated the Premier upon its introduction.

Mr Heke objected to the provision in the Bill, placing difficulties in the way of natives obtaining the pension. Mr R. McKenzie advocated the pension being made universal aud contended that the country would demand that concession ; also that the pensions be increased to 10s per week, while native races should be dealt with in the same manner as Europeans. Mr Herries complained that the Bill was weak in its financial aspect. Mr A. L. D. Eraser condemned the restrictions proposed to bo placed ou Maoris obtaining the pension. Mr Hall tbooght that the natives should be placed in the same, position as Europeans as far as the pension was concerned. Mr Hogg approved of the amendments proposed in the Bill, which were neceßsary to cure some defects that had been discovered iu the working of the Act. Mr Parata and Mr Wi Pere complained of the exceptional treatment to which the natives were subjected under the Bill. Mr McGuire and Mr O'Meara also objected to differential treatment of natives. Messrs Monk, Svmes, Field, W. Eraser, Hanan, Ell, Atkinson and Flatman criticised the Bill. Mr Seddon replied, defending the Bill, and the motion for the second readiug was carried. The Bill was committeed, reported with amendments, read a third time aud passed. The House rose at 1.30 a.m.