PARLIAMENT.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 125, 27 May 1916, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

WELLINGTON, May 25. ,v The House met at 2.30. a The Invercargill Athenaeum and ■< Mangawhero County Bills were read a c first time. l An amendment was introduced by £ Governor's message to the War Pen- ; sions Amendment Bill, providing for ]. an increase in the amount for children i from five shillings to seven and six- j t pence per week. Mr. Massey said an- j, other amendment to be proposed was . t that widows with an income of £6OO * yearly would not be entitled to a pen- ) sion, but their children would receive i pensions. : The Bill was then considered in 1 committee, and a discussion on the lines of the second reading debate 11 followed en the motion for the read- } ing of the first clause, -and lasted until ~ the 5.30 adjournment. |] The House resumed at 7.30. 1 In replv to objections, the Hon. J. ( Allen pointed out that the pensions ( proposed were insuperably superior ; to those offered by Australia, also that it might be possible to further improve , them after the war, when the full responsibility had been ascertained. j Mr. Ell remarked that he thought the country was wealthy enough to I | do more in regard to pensions than it , ' was doing. ( Mr Witty asked what right they had to conscript married men unless were prepared to make full provision for their wives and children in case of death or disablement? j Mr. Webb strongly argued in favour ! of more liberal pensions. Mr Brown made a strong appeal that the pension for widows should be in- , creased. H e urged a further increase I of death duties, to be devoted to the I widows. He regretted this haggling j over an extra five sailings for women j deprived «of their husbands by the I war.

The Hon. Mr. Massey said the Government wa s net being treated fairly by the discussion. He suggested that the Bill be allowed to go on. Amendments could be made, if necessary, in committee. If they wanted further time for consideration, let progress be reported. At 9.30 the first clause was passed. In Clause 9 an amendment proposed by the Minister debarring widows with incomes of £6OO per year from receiving a pension was agrede to. A new clause proposed that a person of notoriously bad character should be refused a pension, Mr. Massey agreeing to have the clause worded to meet certain representations by members. The remainder of the Bill passed and the House rose at 10.45.