OLD AGE PENSIONS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1852, 11 September 1913, Page 4

OLD AGE PENSIONS.

NATIONAL.,.ENDOWMENTS DISCUSSED. . THE OHAKUNE SETTLERS.

EiSTD OF THE DAYLIGHT SAVING BILL.

The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m.. . • The Roman Catholic Archbishop Empowering Bill (tho,Hon. C. 'Johnston) 'ivas read a third time. I FIRST READINGS.. The Public Mist Office Amendment Bill, and tho luxation and Water-sup-ply Bill were received from tlio Houso of Representatives and road a first, lime.' , I METHODIST UNION. Tho Methodist TJnion Bill (the Hon. 'H. D'. Bell) was read -a third time and passed. LOCAL BILLS. Tho Hon. C. M. LUKE moved the second reading of tho. Wellington City (Jimpcnvering and Amendment Bill, and explained very briefly the object of tho iJJill. . Tlio Dunedin District Drainage and Sewerage Acts Amendment Bill (tho ■Hon. 'J. B. Callan) was committed. Tho IBill was considered up to tho last clause, when Mr. Callan moved that progress bo reported in order that certain .amendments might bo introduced Jateo.-; Progress was reported accordingly. : '.' -. -l AMENDMENTS INCORPORATION. Tho Amendments Incorporation Bill l'(tho Hon. H. D. Bell) was read a third jhno and passed. PENSIONS BILL. THE DEBATE CONCLUDED. Tlio Hon. J. KARR resumed the debate on the Pensions Bill. As regards the suggestion that pensions should bo established on a contributory basis, Jho'was of opinion that tho present system could not bo altered. Something ■should be dono perhaps to arrange for mil extension of the National Provident fc'und to supplement tho • pensions schome. . Doubtless a contributory system, of pensions was the'/deal, but fit was. an ideal that, would ■bo difficult!or impossible of .attainment. Ho hoped the Government would nest year be iablo to put into., force an amondmont by which; women would receive the fiill amoit^ ; of instead of £21 per year as at present. The. Hon. J. R. SINCLAIR said he wished to support the Bill. Ho believed that tho cumulative additional help to be given to old people under ■the Bill would be £100,000 a year. This inado tho' BilL a 'very Big instalment of helpful, legislation, for -the" amount of £10Q,000 was. about ;a ",f6urth of tho ;total- expenditure,, on.: pensions. Ho tirged-Jtliat 'tlio ' Government would, when it was able to do so, try to establish.'a system'of unemployment, insurance,; the lack of which now made many anold ago pensioner. The Hon.' J. T. PAUL supported the Bill. Ho.noted as an especially good feature pf tho'Bill tho reduction of the ago at {which women could receive tho pension. 'He urged, however, that-as well ad widows, 'women, who . had been deserted;by their husbands, "and women who were left with sick husbands to support ought to receive a pension. ll© would also liko to seo the Government Introduce a scheme with proper safeguards'to prevent parents from escaping their obligations, to provido for .-illegitimate children, so that tho sins of the parents should not .be visited oti tho 'children. Tho Hon. W. BEEHAN thought the Bill an'excellcnt measure. The Hon. H, D. BELL, in reply, said he was 'glad to. know that tho Bill had met with tho approval of tho Council. Last year tlio total-cost of pensions had been £441,000, arid this was now be'ing increased... In addition to this also tho Government had to meet claims almost, if ! not quite, as meritorious,-on their limited, funds. There wore-tho demands! of '.'tho,,.teachers .for increased -salaries, and' tho demand for newschools in tho country. The Governjnent hhd to weigh ono claim against another. They might liavo chosen other •ways of making concessions which would have made "a bettor, show in tlio'windows," '.if that was" what they desired to spend their money on; but the Prime ■ had promised ■ these.; pensions concessions,; and the result was ono of tho best ..drafted, .clearest pieces of leg-' islation; ever presented to Parliament; on pensions, or any cognate subject. He said this .with all diflidence ; because it would b : o : very'urifortunato. if a Minister used tho floor of tho Houso to utter boasts.about tbo excellence of the Government measures. Ho had been deUghtqd;. to . hear"/ Mr. Jones's • speech, entirely at a r ;loss as- that honourable gentleman was to find anything in tho Bill to could tako exception. Tlio Billy was read a second-time on tho voices. Tho Council rose at 4.49 p.m.