PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 968, 8 November 1910, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

. THE HOUSE. TAIERI DRAINAGE BILL. ; The sittings of the House of Represen- ... latives wore resumed last night. The Standing Orders relative to local .! Bills were suspended, in order to allow the Taieri Land Drainage Bill to proceed through all its stages, and that all jroceedings in connection with the Bill /which have taken place prior to the passing of this resolution be validated. NATIONAL ANNUITIES. BILL PASSED BY THE HOUSE. Upon the motion that the amendments made in tho National Provident Fund Bill be agreed to. Mr. MASSET said that he would have liked to have seen the maximum income in respect of contributions raised to at least .£2OB. For himself, he did not Eee why the scheme should not embrace residents whose income did not exceed £o per week. Another defect in the Bill was that sufficient was not done in the case of widows. More be done in this regard even if it meant a larger con- ■ tribution by the State. With reference to the benefits,, there were restrictions which ought to be removed. As it was, no benefit other than the maternity benefit was payable until after 5 years, nor was there any allowance in the, case of illness lasting under threo months. He would also like to see provision made to meet the case of unemployment. ' Mr. PEARCE (Patea) advocated the adoption of a clause under which, the rStato would subsidise contributions in a Hump sum. to provide a pension of not taore than £1 per week. Mr. MALCOLM (Clutha) contended ihat the Bill would tend to assist the Vealthy rather than the poor. ' ~ • Mi. LUKE ' (Wellington Suburbs). stated that in his opinion the measure was only the forerunner of other legislation of a similar nature. ■ ■■ Mr. WEIGHT (Wellington South) reigretted that the maximum in respect of income had not been increased from .£2OO v to £i per week. When .contributors left New Zealand for good they should cease to be members on the fund. Messrs. Stallworthy (Kaipara), E. Hi Taylor (Thames), Poole (Auckland W.), and Anderson (Mataura) spoke approvingly of the measure. Its Primary Object, The PRIME MINISTER said that the scheme. involved a "capital incentive to young people to be thrifty. It had to be remembered that New Zealand would be the. first country in the world to provide a maternity benefit. The primary object of the Bill was to assist a widow with a large young family. As regards unemployment neither the German Government nor the English Government had yet. found an insurance scheme which would be successful. There was not one of the insnrance companies which was providing as great benefits than were proposed under the scheme. He was sur- . prised that some members should now ' want to see the 6cope of the 6oheme .enlarged, when only the other evening they voted against the resolution of the surtax which was to form part and parcel of the moneys to help the fund. Mr. iHine: I thought you wanted surtax moneys for defence! (Laughter.)

The amendments were'then agreed to. On the motion for the third reading of the measure, . ■-■■■,

Mr. ALLEN (Bruce) declared that the echeme should have been made universal. He thought that it favoured the wealthy rather than the poorer classes. As a result of an , alteration in the Bill a contributor, after making his payment for one year, which might be only .£2, could then, if his wife gave birth, to a child, volaim a bounty of .£6. The principle of the Bill was a. good one. Mr; !i 'MA'SSEY pointed out that some yearsTwould require to pass before the maximum contribution from the State would be needed. :

The Bill was then read a third time; and passed. THREE NEW , BILLS. "HOW MANY MORE?" ASKS ME. •MASSEY. The Old Age Pensions Amendment Bill, New Zealand Loans Amendment Bill, and the Law of. Libel and Slander Amendment ' Bill were received by Governor's Message. . . Mr. MASSEY remarked, with a touch of sarcasm, that he would like to suggest an adjournment until after the Christmas holidays. If the Prime Minister was going to introduce Bills at this rate the session would last for another six months. He thought the. House should be given full opportunity to look into and discuss the Bills already before Parliament. The Prime Minister: Judging by the emile on the face of the Leader of the Opposition, I am sure lie spoke facetiously- . . Mr. Massey: How many more Bills are you bringing on? < Sir Joseph Ward: There are not many more—l feel bound to say that. The New , Zealand Loans Bill, continued Sir Joseph, was a measure of only two clauses, which made provision for an endorsement on our debentures stating that there is a sinking fund provided. The Old Age Pensions Bill gave effect to various suggestions he had been asked to legislate on. ■ These two Bills should be able to be put through without much trouble. He was sure that when , the House saw the Libel and Slander Bill it would agree that it was a very desirable measure and would put it on the Statute Book. ■ .

Mr; , Massey: We have had it before. The Prime Minister: You have not had this one before. . .

Except for three , Bills on the ■ Order Paper, said the Prime Minister, there were none which would Rive rise.to any considerable discussion. They should see how far they could get. "If we can't get through it," added Sir Joseph, cheerfully, "by all means let us adjourn for Christmas, and come back and have a good time afterwards."' The various Bills mentioned were then read a first time. BY-LAWS BILL. The recommendations of the conference of managers of both Houses in regard to the By-laws Bill was agreed to.