House ot Representatives

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 12583, 2 October 1908, Page 2

House ot Representatives

WELLINGTON, October 1. The House met at 2.30 p.m. IMPORTED TIMBER. On the report of the Extension of i'ommerce Committee, upon several petitions (praying for au increase of duty upon \viportcd timber), that . in the Committee's opinion an increase of duty would b<= inadvisable but that tha petition shou'd be referred to the Government for consideration, "Mv Seddon moved to refer the rt jx.i o Lack to the Committee. A lengthy debate then took place \i\joh the Oregon pine question upon line* of previous debates this session. Several m«>Mberb contended that tho Committee shoiild have expressed an oninion upon the advisabilit/ of imposing.;,^'' duty, seeing that the* wirotß -mutter is TO be reK-rreu to a Royal Commission. >EJep»tually the report was ordered to lie ou the table. COUNTIES ACT AMENDMENT. The Counties Act Amendment Bill, No. 2 (Field), was read a first time. AUCKLAND COLLEGE LAND BILL. The Auckland University College Land Bill (Hon. McNab) was read a second t : me. JUSTICES OJF PEACE AMENDMENT BILL. Tho Hon. J. McGowan moved the fi-cond reading of the Justices of the Peace Amendment Bill, providing that informations and affidavits may' be sworn t^fore Clerks of Courts, and aJso making »crta ; n amendments in procedure with respect to habitual offenders. Agreed to. OLD AGE PENSIONS. Sir J. G. Ward moved the second roading of the Old Age Pensions Bill, which, he said, proposes various improvement* in the system of old age pensions. The chief amendments have the t following effect: — Any person, qualified in other respects for a pension, can have a pension if for one year he has led a sober and reputable life, thus removing au anomaly under >vhich the old age pensioner at present 'a disqualified for five years for conviction of drunkenness. Provision is also made that, in cases of conviction for drunkenness, the Magistrates may, upon the application of the Registrar, suspend a pension certificate for a period of one year, And also that under certain circumstances such certificates may be cancelled. Seofion 10 of the principal Act is also amended in the direction of providing that the interest of any periion in any life assurance policy or annuity from a lite assurance- company shall not be deemed to be accumulated property. Section 11 of the principal Act is amended in the direction of increasing the value of the property which can be placed in the hands of the Public Trustee from .£3OO to .£650.

Sir Joseph Ward stated that on a 32 per cent, basis of the population, the cost in 1909 would be, at J26 pension, J8351,442, which wculd increase by 1913 to <£374,400. • The Houae adjourned a at 5.30 p.m. The House resumed at 7.30. Mr Massey geuerally approved of the Kill as an improvement upon the existing law. In the debate which followed there was general appreciation of the measure though a number of committee amendments were suggested,; one being that theage qualifying for a pension should l>e reduced to 60 years, j % Several members pointed to an anomaly under which a person who had been 61 years in the Dominion; but four years absent, cannot get a pension, whereas a person who arrived here at 40 years of age can, after 25 years' residence, * obtain a pension This anomaly, it was contended, should be removed. Sir J,. G. Ward, in replying, expressed gratification at the way the Bill had. been received. Referring to universal pensions, he considered the idea impossible. He averred that universal pensions of £26 per annum would, in 1910, cost ,£1,028,000, and by 1913 the amount would be ,£1,113,133. On similar grouuds he opposed the abolition of the property limit qualification, and said it would be wrong to run the risk of breakir J' 1 340wn the old age pension system to adopt afcy suggestion that broken residence should mfWlisqualify for a pension. It was not practic^ftjp, as people would return here simply for tnSf purpose of obtaining a pension. \ \^ The Bill was read « second time/V INFANTS BILL. The Hon. Fowlds moved the second i heading of the Infants Amendment Bill, making certain amendmentfein. the djrectic n of improving the machinery of the fina ncial provisions in the principal Act. The Bill was read a second time wituiout debate. \

LOCAL BODIES LOANS. The I/ocal Bodies Loans Amendment Bill was read a third time. LAND LAWS BILL. The Land Laws Amendment Bill was introduced by Governor's message. Messrs Herrios, Grecnslade, and Maesey protested against the measure being brought down at this jjeriod of the session. Sir Joseph Ward said importa~.it measures were brought down by every Government in the world towards the end of the session. Be objected to bu-iiig c -. jod v.rt'i lushing things. If it was nee- r*iary io sit a month longer let them do to. After some further discussion the Bill was read a second time pro forma, and referred to the Native Affairs Committee. HARBOURS BILL. The Hon.' J. Millar moved the second reading of the Harbours Amendment Bill. The motion waa agreed to on the voices. WAIPUKA BLOCK BILL. The Hon. Mr Nab moved the second reading of the Waipuka Block Bill. Agreed to. SECOND FALLOT BILL. THE "GAG" CLAUSE STRUCK OUT. Tho report of the managers appointed to confer with the Legislative Council on the Second Ballot Bill - was read by thfr Speaker. It shows that the amendments made by the Council in clauses 21, 18. and 22 are agreed to, and- that clause 19 is struck out. This means that the 500 majority clause and the "gag" clause disappear. Sir Joseph Ward stated that the "gag" clause had. been sacrificed because the Council would not agree to the clause as sent from the House, but insisted upon its own amendment. Mr Massey "said this was the greatest surprise of the session. In spit© of his loud talk the Premier had been beaten all along the line. Tlio report was asrreed to. WELLINGTON, October ?. In the House, after midnight, the Auckland University College La&d, Justices of the Peace Amendment, Infants Amendment, Harbours Amendment, and Waipuka Block Bills, passed their Committee stages with minor amendments. In Committee on the Old Age Pension Act Amendment Bill, Mr Guinness complimented the Government. He thought money in tho Savings Bans should not be treated as income, for the purpose of penalising couples. Thrift should uot be penalised, and pensions should not be withheld- from residents of thirty years and over in broken periods. ( On the motion of Sir Joseph Ward, a new jclause was inserted, providing ihat if a pensioner saved to £2 a week n any year, it shall not operate against a pension at renewal, provided he can sLow he has ceased earning, money: After, the telegraph office closed, at 2 o'clock, the Old Age Pensions Amendment Bill passed through the Committee stage. r jlip Auckland University College J.nnd, Justices of the Peace Amendment, Infants Amendment,. Harbours Amendment, ai.d Waipuke Block Bills were reported, read a third time,, and passed. The House rose at 2.40 a.m.