HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 68, 17 September 1896, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

(Per Press Association.) Wellington, Sept. 16. In the House this afternoon the Chinese Poll Tax Bill raising the tax to LIOO was pat through all its stages. The reason for passing the Bill is that the Asiatic Exclusion Bill has been deferred by the Governor for the Queen's &esent. Mr Duthie called attention to an article in the London Financial News of 26th August, which, he considered reflected on him as a member of Parliament, He read the paragraph to which he referred, the effect of which was that thanks to Mr J. G. Ward it was now learned for the first time that the affairs of the Bank of New Zealand had not bee a above suspicion in regard to its dealings with Mr J. Dnthie, a member of the House, while others were stigmatised as being criminals themselves, or closely related to criminals. He (Mr Duthie) said it was painfnl to him to be alluded to in this manner in a newspaper of repute. As a warning to the British investor, he wished to state that he had never been charged with, or never been connected in any transactions whatever with the Bank of New Zealand. Mr Ward said his name was men* tioned in the paragraph read by Mr Dnthie, but he wished to state that he had never directly or indirectly communicated with any person in England on the subject to which Mr Dntbie referred. Government then proposed to pnt eight Bills in committee together but the Houpo refused by five on a division to take more than three Bills. The House is now considering the Old Age Pensions Bill in committee, In clanse 2, " persons entitled to pensions," Mr Earnsbaw moved to make the age of recipients 60 years, instead of 65, as in the Bill. The Hon. R. J. Seddon opposed the amendment. He said it would be an indirect way of killing the Bill, and would prevent anything being done in the way of providing old age pensions. After debate, Mr Earnshaw's motion was negatived by 54 to 5. The question of the amount of pension which the Bill fixed at 10s per week evoked much discussion. The Premier eventually moved an amendment to the cause, that the pension was not "to exceed 10s per week." This was carried by 41 to 12. Mr G. J. Smith moved to strike ont the sub-section preventing a person whose earnings (exclusive of personal earnings and pension) exceed £50 per annum from benefiting under the Bill. Carried by 29 to 21. The Premier announced that the House having thus decided, he could not go on with the Bill. As Colonial Treasurer, he wonld say that, as altered, the Bill would cost too much per annum. On the motion of Mr W. Hutchison a new sub-clause was added, providing that on receipt of a pension the recipient must retire from competition in the labor market. The Premier moved to add a new priviso to the effect that no person shall receive a pension whose total earnings amount to £1 per week. A lengthy discussion followed, several members contending that the Premier's proposal would make the Bill a Charitable Aid Bill. The Premier's motion was negatived by 32 to 23, and the Premier stated he would not proceed further with the Bill. He moved to report progress. This however, was negatived by 30 to 24. The Premier on that left his Bill which was taken charge of by the Chairman. After several minor amendments had been nagatived Mr Ward moved to report progress. The Premier said the amendments made by the commitlee wonld mean an expenditure of J650.000 to £700,000 per annnmn and he was was not prepared, as a matter of policy, to impose this heavy burden upon the colony. He was not, under the circumstances, going on with the Bill this session. Mr G. W. Russell said the House had twice decided in favor of pensions being universal, and it was no catch vote. The motion to report progress was carried by 49 to 6 and the House rose at 1.30 a.m.