ELECTORAL LAW.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2276, 9 October 1914, Page 7

ELECTORAL LAW.

RAILWAYS FOR BACK-BLOCKS SETTLERS. NATIONAL PROVIDENT FUND. The Legislative Council met at 2.80 p.m. The Lahour Bills Committee reported that they had considered the Factories Act Amendment Bill, and recommended that tho measure should l not be proceeded with. Tho Hon. J. T. PAUL gave notice that at the next sitting of the Chamber he would move that the Bill should be considered by tho Council in Committee on Wednesday next. FIRST. READINGS. The Hon. H. D. BELL granted leave to introduce the Fisheries Amendment Bill and the Taieri Land Drainage Amendment Bill. Both measures were read a first time. The Rangitaiki '• Land Drainago Amendment Bill and the Hauraki Plains Amendment Bill were received from the Houso of Representatives and were read a first time. NATIONAL PROVIDENT FUND. POSITION OF FRIENDLY SOCIETIES. ' The Hon. H. D. BELL moved the second- reading of the National Provident Fund Amendment Bill. The Hon. W. BEEHAN said that his instructions from the Friendly Societies were that they would have nothing to do with the measure. _ Tho Hon. Mr. Bell:. You don't take instructions, do you?" The Hon. Mr. Beehan: Yes The Hon. Mr. Bell: What I Instruc-| tions to a member of this Council, The Hon. Mr. Beehan: Well, representations. I -receive their representations with' instructions to carry them out. The Hon. Mr. Bell smiled broadly. The Hon. R. MOORE regretted to hear that the Friendly Societies would have nothing to do with the Bill. _ A member: They have never said anything of the kind.The Hon. Mr. Moore: Well, I understood that Mr. Beehan represented their views. He spoke with at least assumed authority. / The Hon. Mr. Moore said -that the Bill would encourage thrift among the people. He would support tho second - reading. ' • . Tho Hon. J. BARR said that he, did not believe the original Provident Act had done harm to the Friendly Societies. The Hon. J. DUTHIE said that he was glad to hear.of tho stand which the friendly societies were taking (asmentioned by the Hon. Mr. Beehan)./ The friendly societies did a good work in joining people together to meet the common risks of life, and self-reliance was the characteristic of those bodies. The National Provident Fund had the effect of weakening these societies, because it offered somewhat more than was merited. . It was the Socialistic tendency of the day which was breaking down the self-reliance upon which the progress of our race depended. Tho spirit of self-reliance was .being lost sight of and members on both sides of tho House were prepared to come forward with schemes to give men something more than they were entitled to. We were sapping independence, and sapping it by these measures. It was not good for peoplo to be spoon-fed. Tho Hon.' H. D. Bell: Will you say how this saps independence? The Hon. J. Duthie: "Because you are giving a contribution which has not been earned." Tho principlo of State interference in such matters, Mr.' Duthie added, was bad. The Hon. H. D. Bell said that tit© principle of superannuation for Publio Servants had been accepted in _ most countries, and that it was applicable, also, to the servants of minor authorities. The Bill was then read a second time. The Council adjourned at 3.65 p.m.