PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 100, 18 October 1911, Page 8

PARLIAMENT

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17. j ' By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. ' The Council met at 2.30. It was resolved to suspend the Stand- j ing Orders to enable local Bills to be put through all stages at one sitting. The Attorney-General moved in the direction of confirming the approval of laying the new Pacific cable between New Zealand and Australia, the motion being similar to that recently passed by the' House. The debate was adjourned till nextday, and the Guardian Trust and Execu•tors' Company Amendment Bill was brought forward. At the report stage the Hon. Mr. Jenkinson moved the adjournment of the debate on the ground that the evidence bfore the committee ought to be before the Council before dealing further with the Bill. The motion for adjournment was lost by 20 votes to 10, and the report was adopted by 19 to 9. On the motion of the Hon. Mr. Samuel, it was agreed that the evidence .before the Private Bills Committee of the Guardian Trust and Executors' Company Amendment Bill be laid on the table. It was also resolved to agree with the Governor's amendment to the Friendly Societies Bill, eliminating the Council's amendment in clause 2, subclause 1, thus practically leaving the Bill as it came from the House. The Patents, Designs and Trades Marks Bill was read a third time and passed. The Administration Amendment Bi!'; was passed, and the Kaikoura Hospital •Site Bill (Sir J. G. Findlay) and local Bills passed by the House were put through all their stages without amendment. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wellington, Tuesday. After midnight the Old Age Pensions Amendment Bill was read a second time. The Public Works Statement was laid on the table, and Sir Joseph Ward fixed Wednesday for the debate on this and | the Loan Bill. | Sir Joseph Ward moved the second reading of the Widowjt' Pension Bill, I the mainspring of which was the sav ing of the children as an asset for the State. The scheme would cost £55,000, and would be money well spent. Mr. Allen hoped the Bill would go on the Statute Book. The Bill was read a second time. Sir Joseph Ward moved the second reading of the State Guaranteed Advances Bill. The chief clause provided for the raising of £750,000 per annum for assisting the workers to build homes. The second reading was agreed to. The Christchurch District Drainage Amendment Bill was reported. The Shipping and .Seamen's Amendment Bill was reported with minor amendments. The Rating Amendment Bill was then considered in committee. After 2 a.m., on the Rating Amendment Bill, sub-clause 2, clause 2, provides that a poll may be taken before applying the unimproved rating system ' to rates. The Minister moved to make the I clause obligatory by inserting the words ! "shall on receipt of a petition signed by 15 per cent, of the ratepayers take a poll." This was carried, and the Bill reported. The Land and Income Tax Bill was put through without amendment, and the Death Duties Bill Amendment considered. Mr. Allen called for a division on the proposal to repeal the proviso in the existing law which exempts from duty small gifts, the division being rejected by 29 votes to 11. Mr. Allen held that the proposal to exempt gifts up to £ 1000 was not a concession, there being a provision in the existing law to exempt gifts up to €SOO, made six months before death. The Bill was reported. The Public Works Bill was considered.

Mr. Allen moved to add a proviso to the clause, making the laying of electric lines pursuant to license that it did not affect existing lines used by farmer? or private individuals. The motion was rejected, and the Bill reported. The following Bills were read a third time and passed: Cliristehurch Drainage, Shipping and Seamen, Rating Amendment, Land Tax and Income Tax, Death Duties Amendment and Public Works Amendment. The House adjourned at 3.45 a.m. Wellington, Last Night. The House met at 2.30. Replying to Mr. Russell, who asked if the Government could see its way clear to perpetuate the memory of Mr. E. Gibbon Wakefield, founder of New Zealand, Sir Joseph Ward said the memory of the founder of the country should be perpetuated in a fitting manner. An incentive should be given to the people to contribute to such funds. He was prepared to make provision in the Supplementary Estimates for a £ for £ subsidy up to a certain amount >to make provision for the perpetuation ol the memory of a great and remarkable man, the founder of New Zealand. THE VOLUNTEER SYSTEM. The Prime Minister wished to place on Tecord the country's appreciation of the volunteer system which had been ill force for over fifty years. THE COUNTRY'S CREDIT. Speaking to a return laid on the table of the House, Mr. Allen said the figures contained therein gave the net indebtedness of the country as two millions less "Man given in the Budget, Sir. Joseph Ward said'that under the Act internal reserves could not be included in the Public Debt. There had Cw° take in the fl ß ures i" the am amount mentioned by Mr Allen was the accumulated sinking funds of the Lands for Settlement Act" and these could not be set against the 'cross public debt. He went on to complain ot the way papers relating to the financ.a transactions of the Dominion which had been placed on the table of the louse were sent Home to financial Houses by the "phonographs of the Onposition," with the utmost regularity or the purpose of advertising financial transactions, thereby injuring the credit of the country Such procedure was not conducive to the financial welfare of the Dominion, and could not be called the .conduct of a patriot.

Mr. Allen denied ever having sent or having caused to be sent to England anvtlnng_ of the nature suggested by the Premier. He had been in England and md on every possible occasion upheld the financial condition of the Dominion, ihe information he was accused of disseminating could be found in the official year .book. A table there set forth dates of maturity of loans. Sir Joseph Ward said the maturity ol loans was <|uite a different matter to tile renewal. It was information con ccrmng the latter that be was referring to. This was circulated amongst the' commercial neighbors of the financial hruises the Dominion was dealing with j and such a course was most undesirable.

The Loan Bill was read a first time, aiui the House went into committee on several. Bills.. OTHER BILLS. The Elingamitc Rehearing Bill and the Dmieilin Technical School Site Bill were reported without amendment. In the Old Age Pensions Bill Sir Joseph Ward moved a new clause to prevent fraud fey the adoption of children. The Bill was temporarily reported to enable the Railway Authorisation Bill to he introduced by Governor's message. The Bill was read a first time. The House resumed at 7.30. OLD AGE PENSIONS BILL. The House went into committee, when the Old Age Pensions Amendment Bill was further considered. Mr. Guinness asked why the age of children covered by the Bill was put at 14 and not lfi as indicated in the Budget. The Minister said tliat children under 14 years were prohibited from entering factories, and after reaching that ago they usually went to work, and it was not intended to provide for children who were out working. Sir Joseph Ward moved a new clause exempting the expenditure of £OO a year in the case of a single man, or £9O in the case of a married man, from ranking as the income of a pensioner. Sir A. R. Guinness opposed the amendment, and suggested that the word income as defined in the principal Act should not include money drawn from a bank. Sir Joseph Ward explained that that proposal would encourage the dissipation of savings. The claifse was carried by 3,i to 34. Sir E. R. Guinness moved a new clause, to provide that income shall not include any money drawn from a bank or institution where it has been deposited for interest and safe-keeping. The Premier said the Government had already gone as far as possible in the increase of the burdens of the country as far as old age pensions were concerned. Sir A. R. Guinness said that in view of that he would withdraw the amendment, as he had no desire to kill the Bill. He then moved a clause to provide that monies received from the sale or exchange' of property, or on an insurance policy, shall not be deemed to be income within the meaning of the Act. A new clause was added to the Bill that the terms exclude aliens. The Bill was reported with the amendments. The State Guaranteed Advances Bill was put through without amendments. 'The Auckland Grammar School Bill and the Education Reserves Amendment ! Bill were considered. The Hon. T. McKenzie proposed to insert a provision that high school trustees should be authorised to grant leases of reserves with perpetual right of renewal. The clause was accepted and added to the Bill, which wag reported with i amendments, and the committee took • the Widows' Pension Bill. Mr. Poland suggested that a clause ' should be added giving power to the present tenants to surrender their lease* and take up fresh leases under an im- •! proved condition of the present Bill. The clause was adopted and the Bill 11 reported with amendments, i All the Bills that went through committee were passed, together with the - Blingamite Rehearing Bill and the Dun- ! edin Technical School Site Bill. The i; Tramways Amendment Bill was recommitted with a view to adding a new | clause.