Legislative Council.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 311, 12 November 1910, Page 5

Legislative Council.

Wellington, Last Night

The Council this afternoon appointed a committee to draw up reasons for disagreement to certain amendments made in the Destitute Persons Bill by the House ot Representatives. The Post and Telegraph Amendment Bill, the Kauri Industry Amendment Bill, and the Counties Amendment Bill were read a third time and passed. Tne debate on the second reading of the National Provident Fund Bill was resumed. The Hon. J. T. Paul considered the Bill an instalment of a great reform. He believed the time would come when the Dominion would have to adopt a compulsory system of insurance, to which the present scheme would have to give way. He believed the country would, before long, have to embark in some extended system of unemployment insurance, which could be well grafted on to the present measure. The Hon. Loughnan spoke in terms of praise of the Government, for bringing down such a pro gressive measure. A3 to compulsory insurance, he did not think that in a country like New Zealan I, it would do any good. The Hon. Jones doubted if the Bill would do all that was claimed. It would mean that a large number of people who had families, but were (oo poor to participate in the scheme, would have to contribute to the benefits; of their more fortunate fellows. He believed th a day was corning when New ZeaalnU would have conceived a scheme of national insurance worthy of the name. He thought it would have been better if provision had been made for taking contributions for the fund from employers, as well as from the State. The Hon. Barr said the day of Friendly Societies was coming to a close, and they would soon have to hand cheir functions over to the State, i This Bill, he looked upon as a first j step to this end. It wis a first attempt to put family men upon a better j footing. It was, in his opinion, the j duty of the State to inaugurate an unemployment scheme. On resuming in the evening, tne second reading of the National Provident Fund Bill was agreed to, and the Local Bodies Loans, Taranaki Scholarship Endowments, and the Education ( Reserves Bills were read a second : time. The Hon. Dr Findlay moved the , second reading cf the Gaming Bill. : The Hon, J. D. Ormond seconded, but : pointed out the necessity for amending j certain clauses, in order to give satis- i faction.