PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 183, 12 November 1910, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Council this afternoon appointed a committee to draw up reasons for disagreement to certain amendments made in the Destitute Persons Bill by the House. The Post and Telegraph Amendment Bill, the Kauri Gum Industry Amendment Bill, and the Counties Amendment Bill were read a third time and passed. The debate on the second reading of the National Provident Fund Bill was resumed. The Hon. J. T. Paul considered the Bill was 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 countrj would, before long, have to embark in some extended system of unemploy-| ment insurance, which could be well grafted on to the present measure. The Hon. R. A. Loughnan spoke in terms of praise of the Government for bringing down such a progressive measure. As to compulsory insurance, he did not think that in a country like New Zealand it would do any good.

The Hon. G. Jones doubted if the Bill would do all that was claimed for it.

It would mean that a large number oi people who had families, but were too poor to participate in the scheme, would have to contribute to the benefits of their more fortunate fellows. He believed the day was coming when New Zealand would have a universal 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. Hon. J. Barr said the day of friendly societies was coming to a close, and

they would soon have to hand their functions over to the State. This Bill he looked upon as the first step to this end. It was the first attempt to put the family man upon a better footing. It was, in his opinion, the duty of the State to inaugurate an unemployment scheme.

The Council rose at 5 p.m. EVENING SESSION. Wellington, Last Night. At the evening session the debate on the Natiinal Provident Fund Bill was continued.

The Hon. J. Rigg held that the greatest recommendation the Bill possessed was that there was no compulsion to remain a contributor. Uncertainty of employment would prevent many who would like to join the fund from doing so.

Dr. Findlay, in replying, said the debate had been worthy of the measure, and the Bill had been received in a spirit of fair and intelligent criticism. He recognised the measure was not a» extensive as it might be, but the greatest difficulty was one of finances, It was, however, a step in the desired di rection. He pointed; out that under this Bill the State was contributing far more to unfortunate people than probably any other country % the world. The second reading was agreed to. The Local Bodies Loans Amendment Bill, Taranaki Scholarships Endowment Bill, and Education Reserves Amendment Bill were read a second time.

Dr. Findlay moved the second reading of the Gaming Amendment Bill, the provisions of which he briefly explained. The Hon. J. D. Ormond seconded the motion. Ea many respects, he said, the Bill went in the direction in which all true sportsmen wished to see the law amended, particularly as regards the bookmakers. There were, however, several points in which the Bill should be amended to make it satisfactory. More especially he objected to sub-clause 2 of clause 5, Which provides that the commission, in determining the clubs to which licenses shall be' granted, shall give preference to those clubs which use the totalisator at one meeting only in any year. The Attorney-General promised to have the sub-section struck out when the Bill is in committee. The debate was adjourned. The Council rose at 10 p.m., until Monday at 2.30 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wellington, Last Night.

, The House met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to Mr v Wilford, the Prime Minister stated that tenders had beei. invited for the erection of four wireless stations in the Dominion, but these hao ■not yet been received. He hoped tin stations would be operating within twelve months. The second reading of the New Zealand Loans Amendment Bill was moved bv Sir Joseph Ward and agreed to. ] "The second reading of the Old Age Pensions Amendment Bill was moved bj Sir Joseph Ward, who said the main feature of the Bill was to allow of a pensioner having £SO accumulated savings in addition to home and furniture to°the value of £340. The Act, so far as it related to married couples, was amended so as to provide that no .oreater deduction in respect of propert;, than £340 shall be made. This would result in increased pensions being payable to married couples. The extra cost involved in the amendment to the Act for the last two years was £2(5,000. Mr. Massey said the Bill was mainlv designed to remedy a mistake made in the Act of last year, which had in mnn> instances actually reduced pensions instead of increasing them, as intended. He trusted the passing of the Bill would remove complaints against the Old Agt Pension law. The second reading was agreed to. The House went into committee on the Licensing Bill. EVENING. SESSION.

The New Zealand Loans Amendment Bill was taken in committee. Mr. Allen moved to add a clause providing that returns of loans and the cost of raising same shall be placed before the House within a year after the loans are raised.

Mr. Massey, in supporting the motion, said the financial operations had not been satisfactorily conducted. Sir Joseph Want Massey to show any case of a mistake being made in connection with the financial arrangements. On a division, the clause was rejected by 45 to 27. Mr. Herdman moved a new clause, providing that particulars of the terms upon which loans are floated, together with the cost and expenses of the same, shall be laid before Parliament within two years of flotation. This was rejected by 28 to 44. The Bill was reported with amendments.

The Old A?" TVn-sions Amewlmcn Till! passed lis fiTinl stage.

On the suggestion of Sir Joseph Ward it was decided that the House should meet at 10 a.m. on Saturday for the purpose of dealing with local Bills, numbering 25. On the motion of the Premier, it was a »reed not to insist on the amendments made by the House in the Destitute Persons Bill, which were disagreed with by the Legislative Council.