DESTITUTE PERSONS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 892, 11 August 1910, Page 6

DESTITUTE PERSONS.

GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS CRITICISED. THE TIMBER INDUSTRY. BUDGET DEBATE CONTINUED. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. The Legislative Couucil held a sitting yesterday afternoon. First of. all thero was some discussion with reference to the advantages or otherwise of a State bank, after which it was decided to set up a committee to consider the whole matter. Members of the Council then proceeded to discuss .the Destitute Persons Bill. In the House there was an-interesting discussion in the afternoon upon the question as to whether the timber industry was sufficiently protected. The evening sitting was occupied with further addresses in the Financial Debate, which was not 'Concluded. In the course of tho evening Mr. Hine enumerated his charges that certain improper commissions in connection with the sales of- privato estates to the Government had been paid. His remarks on the subject will bo found in another column. ■• THE COUNCIL STATE BANK SUGGESTIONS. COMMITTEE TO REPORT. ' When the Legislative Council resumed at 2.30 yesterday afternoon the adjourned debate was resumed on the question that a committee bo set up to consider the advantages or otherwise of—(1) a State Bank of issuo and deposit, and (2) State paper currency; tho committee to consist of,the Hons. J. Anstey, J. B. Callan, Dr. Findlay, J.. E. Jcnkinson, T. Kelly, C. M. Luke, W. W. M'Cardle, H. F. Wigram, and tho mover (Hon. J. Rigg), with power to call for persons and papers, and to report during tho present session of Parliament. The Hon. Dr. FINDLAY . said ho thought that the personnel of the committee, with the alterations already recommended, was a guarantee that tho inquiry would be ably and intelligently conducted. He would support, the motion for setting up the committee. It was impossible for him to dissoeiato himself from tho Government, and he would.ask' tho Council to permit him to postpone his observations until they had tho report before them. Tho Hon. T. KELLY ■ (Taranaki) thought it was improper for tho finances of the Dominion to bo guided by joint stock compauies. He was-in. favour, of the establishment of a State Bank. Tho Hon. WI PERE (Hawke's Bay) supported the formation of a State Bank, biit he, liko the Attorney-General, would .withhold his views uutil tho report was. before them. (Laughter.) He saw no reason now why tho debate should be prolonged. (Renewed laughter.) The Hon. W. W. M'CARDLE (Auckland) did not believe in a State Bank. To start such a bank would stir up the enmity of all the other banking institutions. As to the Bank of New Zealand, ho thought this institution had been favoured by the Stato above the other banks. . The Hon. J. ANSTEY (Canterbury) said ho was in favour of a State Bank, which would be at tho,back of, and support, the whole of tho banking institutions, but he was not in•favour of a bank to' conduct private business. The Hon. J. RIGG (Wellington) replied at some length, and asked that the motion be amended by omitting the name of the Hon. Dr. Findlay, and substituting the name of the Hon. E. J. C. Stevons. Tho motion was then put and'carried, with the above amendment. DESTITUTE PERSONS BILL. SECOND READING DEBATE. Tho adjourned debate on tho second reading of the Destitute Persons Bill was resumed. ■ The Hon. O. SAMUEL (Taranaki) said the importance of the measure could not bo exaggerated. This importance lay in the fact that it affected tho woll-being of the whole of the community. "Ho had endeavoured to master the. con tents or the Bill, and had compared' it with various Acts and proposals since the Consolidating Act of 1877. A voice: "And you still live." (Laughtor.) Mr. Samuel said- he had found that practically the whole of the proposals in the present Bill not been put forward in previous measures which had been before the House, and the new clauses needed the best attention of every member. Referring to the care of persons loft destitute, the speaker said that what had to be done was to consider the,welfare of the greatest number, and this meant tho 'poorer classes. The wealthy did not leave their dependents to be a chargo on charity. He said this despite the fact that some hou. gentlemen seemed to lose their heads when speaking. of the wealthy. They seemed to imagine, that the wealthy lost all sense ,of moral responsibility. He did not claim any special virtue for the wealthy, superior to that possessed by tho poor. . On-the contrary, he thought the kindness of the poor to the poor-was fiir greater than that of the wealthy to the poor. Ho was prepared to admit that amongst the poor there existed, the most extraordinary self-sacrifice and sympathy with those who were also. poor. Mr. Samuel proceeded to compare tho present Bill with, tho old Act,' dealing particularly with the provision for the liability of "near relatives" for the support of destitute connections. He was' opposed to "a novelty" in tho Bill, which provided that the residence of "near' relatives," whether in or out of Now Zealand, should be immaterial. This' extension was a very serious thing. If it was confined to wife and-child desertion he would not have so much objection to it,'but as it stood it went far beyond that. There should also be a limit to the Australian States. Clause 9 of the' Bill provided for the making of an affiliation order not only In the case of a child born, but also in the case of a child yet unborn. Tho complaint could be made by any person, and so could be used as a means of levying blackmail. Ho did not think there was any need for an alteration to cover tho unborn child. The present Act went quite far enough in his opinion. The Hon. Dr. Findlay pointed out that provision was made in the present Act to cover tho unborn child. At this stage, 5 p.m., on tho motion, of the Hon. J. B. Jeukinson, the debate was adjourned until this afternoon, when the Hon. Mr. Samuel will continue his speech.