PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 179, 8 November 1910, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. By Telegraph. —Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The House of Representatives met at 7.30 p.m. On a motion by Sir Joseph Ward, that the amendments made in committee in the National Provident Fund Bill be agreed to, Mr. Massey expressed his regret that the salary limit had not, been fixed at £2OB per annum, thus allowing a man earning £4 a week to bsnela by the provisions of the Bill. Hb also considered that sufficient provision was not made for widows. Another provision open to objection was that under which no person could receive benefits until he had contributed to the fund for five years. He would also have desired to see the scheme made applicable to tiie unemployed, and hoped tlie Premier would recommit the Bill with a view to having it amended in the direction indicated.

Mr. Pearce favored increasing the Government subsidy from 25 to 50 pei cent, and the salary limit from £2OO to £250 per annum. Messrs. Malcolm, Stallworthy, Luke, E. H. Taylor, Wright and C. H. Poole continued the debate.

Sir Joseph Ward said the Leader o\ the Opposition was on the outlook for votes. A fact that should not be lost sight of was that limitation of income was only temporary. Young people oi 10 years and upwards could join the fund and secure benefits, no matter what their future incomes might be. If benefits payable to widows were increased, contributions would have to be augmented in order to meet the additional cost. The Bill was not intended primarily to benefit widows, but rather parents with large families. There were two reasons for providing that benefits should not be payable until five years after contributions commenced —firstly, that it was necessary to provide a sound fund; and, secondly, it was necessary to provide against persons suffering from consumption and other diseases coming on to the fund. There was no insurance company doing business in the Dominion ottering benefits such as those contained in the Bill. He would have been glad to have extended the scope of the Bill to persons earning £4 a week, but that would lave meant altering the schedule of the Bill. The motion was agreed to, and the Bill passed. The managers appointed to confer with the Legislative Council on the By-laws Bill reported that it had been agreed to amend sub-section 2 of clause 3 by extending the time within which application can be made for confirmation of by-laws from twelve months to three years.

The following Bills were introduced by Governor's Message, and read a first time: Old Age Pensions Amendment, New Zealand Loans Amendment, Libel Law Amendment. The Premier moved that the, amendment made in committee to the Public Revenues Bill be agreed to. Mr. Massey moved, as an amendment, that the Bill be recommitted, with the object of striking out clause 40. He took strong exception to the clause, which made it possible for the House to alter salaries fixed by Act of Parliament, ana was responsible for what was known as> the "£4O steal." ' Sir Joseph Ward asked for an instance where the powers conferred by the clause had been abused. The clause was a necessary one; otherwise it would not be in the Bill. Mr. Massey's amendment was Tost by 34 to 26. On the motion that the Bill be read a third time, considerable discussion ensued. «

Sir Joseph Ward, replying, said it was sheer hypocrisy on the part of members objecting to the " £4O steal." All of them had wanted an increase of salary, and, with a few exceptions, took the extra £4O. The third reading was carried on the vows, and the Bill passed. The third reading of the Justices of the Peace Amendment Bill, moved by th? Hon. T. MaeKoiizie, was agreed to, and the Bill passed. The House went into committee on the Companies Act Amendment Bill, which was reported unamended. The Education "Reserves Amendment Bill passed through committee without amendment.