THE HOUSE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2241, 29 August 1914, Page 9

THE HOUSE

The House of Representatives met at 7.30 o'clock. - ; The Rangitaiki Land Drainage Amendment Bill, the Local Railways Construction Bill, and the Hauraki Plains Amendment Bill were introduced by Governor's Message, and read a first ■The Local Grants and Subsidies Bill, one of'tho most important policy _meaBuros of the session, was aho introduced and read a first time, \ THE PROVIDENT FUND. The Hon. F, M.B'.', FISHER moved the second reading of the National Provident Fund Amendment Bill, wnicn ne said had already been explained to Bomo. extent. It would bo of-interest-to note lie people who were benefiting. under tnoNatioiial Provident and varipuß penlion Acts—in the-Public Service IU,UUU; teachers, 3600; railways,, 10 000: national provident, 6000; a-total of 29,600 people, whowere making, provision tor themselves« Then, in addition, there, wore 1b',600 persons who were drawing old , age pensions, 1300 drawing widows pensions; and 300 drawing military pen-, eions.' Then,'there were 18,100 persons who were being provided (or .by the State, or a grand total of about ai,UUU. who'were either in receipt of pensions or making provision for'superannuation. Provision! was being made by which local bodies could contribute up to twothirds of the contributions of any of its employees. All these local bodies nbuld be enabled to assist their employees in the direction of making adequate provision for •themselves .iinptheir old ace' 'Bethought that it might-be said that the Bill marked an important departure—it encouraged tnntt. • ine Bill provided that local bodies could .sub-. BidiseiHhe amount of premium paidjW the employees, up to two-thirds. The friendly' societies'- had done extremely valuable work, and it was not the function of the' State to interfere with them, or restrict their work. So the proposal was that where a contributor to a friendly society desired to contribute to "this fund he- should have a ivorlnng basis whereby' a portion oi hie contributions, should, go to the National Provident Fund and a portion to the Friendly Society—proportionately. This had-been done with the approval of Friendly Society representatives to '. whom it had been submitted.', _ . Mr. A. E. GLOVER (Auckland Central) gave credit to tne_ Minister for what he had done in. the direction aimed ot by the Bill. Mr. A. HARRIS (Waitemata) said that he wished to join issue-with Mr. Glover in commending the Minister for what he had'done. Hβ, however, regretted tihat no provision was made for 'subvention. ■"■■'■.' ' - Mr. T. W. RHODES (Thames) considered that the Bill was good so far as it went, but he.held that the Bill did-not go far enough. Subvention for Friendly Societies ehbuld be provided for. . Mr. J. PAYNE (Grey Lynn) thought that provision. should be made for unemplo'yment. ' , The Bill was then read a second time.

SECOND READINCS. The Onehunga Borough Council Enabling Bill, and the Tuakitoto and Kaitangata Lakes Bill were read a eecond time. The Whangairei Harbour Board Empowering Bill was passed through coffi: , jnittee without amendment. The Customs Amendment Bill and the Fire Brigades? Amendment Bill were read a second time.. The House rose at 9.5 "p.m.