Parliamentary Notes.

White Ribbon, Volume 12, Issue 136, 15 September 1906, Page 4

Parliamentary Notes.

By Mrs A. R. Atkinson.

Parliament was opened on the afternoon of Tuesday. August 21st, with a Governor s speech of unusual brevity and modesty, containing, however, one paragraph that is eminently satisfactory The question of making provision for old age pensions as well as that of a separate Endowment Fund for educational purjxjses and hospitals and charitable aid, is a subject of national importance, and proposals for setting aside suitable endowments for these purposes will be submitted to you. It is indeed good news that some statesmanlike and stable provision i* to be made for old age pensions, instead of that payment of them out of revenue which “ had times might render almost impossible. The debate on the Address-in-Reply occupied Thursday and Friday, and was opened by Mr T. E. Y. Neddon, M.11.R. for Westland, seconded bv Mr Poole, both of whom made a good impression on the House. Ji venile Offenders Bill, introduced by Minister of Justice, provides special courts for children under 16 years of age, and directs police officers to report to the magistrate in regard to the

offender. It also proposes to suppress publication of such bv the newspa|>ers. The system is already being worked in the colony, but without the force of law. Passed 2nd reading. Habitual Criminals and Offenders Bill is ;i step in the direction of the indeterminate, sentence and aims at turning the lives of those devoted to criminal pursuits into useful directions; wages according to scale to be placed to credit of the prisoner, and from time to time, a* the minister may direct, to be applied to the maintenance of prisoner’s wife and children (if any), balance (if any) to be paid to him on his liberation. In Committee. Adoption of Children Amendment Bill. —The most interesting clause of this Bill is one forbidding the receipt of any premiuu with an adopted child. In Committee. Opium Prohibition Act Amendment Bill, providing that retailers shall keep a hook for entry of all purchasers’ names, has passed through Committee without amendment. Payment of Jurors Bill provides for payment to jurors of 8s ]>er day and 4s per hull day in civil cases instead of for he case. Passed 2nd reading.