PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 113, 28 September 1912, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Counci.l met at 2.30. Mr. Jenkinsou resumed the debate on the second reading of the Local Authorities Superannuation Bill, which lie said local authorities desired, and he saw no reason why it should not go through with a few amendments. These lie proceeded to indicate. One objectionable feature of the Bill was that upon an employee electing to retire he could claim only the money paid in, less interest, whereas under the Public Service Superannuation Act the money paid by a withdrawing contributor was refunded with compound interest. He thought this Bill should make similar provision. He suggested that local authorities should be asked to contribute so much of their funds to a national provident fund. Where was all the machinery for providing pensions for their workers? That course would do away with the necessity of small bodies amalgamating, and increase the benefits of participants. The system should be entirely altered, and retiring allowance based on the average salary received during the period of service, and not upon the salary at the end of the time. By the present methods, fortunate individuals received an excessive allowance, which was borne by the man receiving 8s or !)s a day, which was entirely wrong. He further urged that as the money paid by civil servants into the fund was their own, a contributor <dirm!d be allowed to borrow money lie had paid in, at any time after he had paid for a certain number of years. Mr. Ban- agreed that the scheme should be altered and extended, so as to practically become a universal system. The Bill would not induce municipal bodies to take up a super.",imitation scheme. There should be a maximum retiring allowance, say of £2OO or £3OO a year, and no allowance should be made for years where there was no contribution.

'Mr.. Rigg supported the Bill, because he approved of its principles. Mr. Bell, in his reply, stated that the position of a person on the public superannuation fund was that he was entitled, when lie retired, to either his annual allowance or the money he had paid in; If he chose the latter course, he got .his money and no interest. If he was compulsorily retired, after twenty years, he got his money ; baek, with simple interest. - The Bill was read a second time. LAND AND INCOME ASSESSMENT. The Land and Income Assessment Bill was put through its final stages, and the Council rose.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The House met at 2.30. THE LAND BILL. Mr. Massey gave notice to move certain new clauses in the Land Bill. WATER POLLUTION. Mr. Massey also gave notice of his intention to introduce a Pollution of Water Supply Bill. THE WAffll STRIKE. ( Mr. Glover gave notice to ask the Prime Minister if he would immediately release the Waihi strikers now in gaol, the circumstances under which they were imprisoned not justifying that end. THE MEMBER FOR EGMONT.

Mr. Wilkinson, new member for Egmont. was sworn in. and took his seat, Messrs. Hine and Okey acting as sponsors.

THE YVANGANUI RIVER. Mr. Mnssey moved the second reading of tlio Wanganui River Trust Amendment Bit], providing that the Wanganui River Trust may lease their' lands for periods up to forty-two years. Mr. congratulated the Prime Minister, on bringing in a genuine Leasing Bill. He had evidently recognised that there should be some land reserved from the despoilers. He advocated.that the Government should institute'a periodic revaluation of leases. Mr. McKcnzie said that the time had arrived when a compulsory revaluation clause should be. inserted in every lease. The Prime Minister, in replying, pointed out that the Bill dealt only with lands held by the Wangauui River Trust, to enable it to obtain income for improving the river, and so reducing its claim on the Government for subsidy.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. (Mr. ITcrdnian moved the second reading of the Justices of the Peace Amendment Bill, which provided for provision by the Crown of counsel for the assistance of accused who are unable to afford that aid. Mr. Witty and Mr. Russell congratulated the Minister on having .taken up a Bill originated by his predecessor, Mr. Hanan. The Bill was read a second time. PHARMACY AMENDMENT BILL. The Pharmacy Amendment I?TTl was read a second time. ' THE ESTIMATES. The House resumed at 7.30, and went into committee to further*consider the Estimates. The education vote, £1,106,211, was first taken. Mr. Forbes advocated a uniform set of school hooks, and the setting up of a council to decide upon a uniform book. Mr. Glover suggested that there be free books and stationery for school children. The Minister, replying to these and other suggestions, said that he was not in a position to make any deelaratiom of policy in regard to the Education Commission's report, which it was intended to submit to Me Education Committee. He did not think it would be possible to adopt uniform school books. Mr. Russell referred to the necessity for a general overhaul of the central Education Department, which was showing increased expenditure. ■Mr. Payne advocated the need for placing the education system on a commercial basis.

The Minister said that he did not believe? in centralisation. School committees did very valuable work. It was his intention to go into the whole system of 'technical education, and also the mal tor of the staffing of the central department. Mr. 0. X. Thomson referred to defects .of the system due to the discouraging of home lessons. Tlic Minister intimated that a large vote for back-block schools would be provided in the Public Works Estimates. Mr. Pviissell eulogised the work "being done by Dr. Truby King and his wife. In Dunedin. where Dr. King resided, the infant mortality was the lowest in the Dominion, solely due, he believed, to Dr. King's preachings. Mr. Laurenson had no hesitation in saying that if a plebiscite were taken, ilii! result would be favorable to Bible reading in schools. Mr. Ha nan hoped that the Minister would see that in future the Estimates wore not brought up so as to create aa. impression that over a million pounds a year was spent on education. Messrs, Wilson and Buick pleaded for

consider;!! ion for tlic- education of - children in the backblocks, and for teackew there. Mr. Bollard moved a reduction of th« vote by £5, as an indication that teachers were under-paid. The Minister hoped that Mr. Bollard would not press his motion. A sum ol £241,000 had been expended on salaries for primary education teachers in tat last few years, and in that time there had been an increase in salaries of £156,000. The amendment was withdrawn.

The Minister said that the question of differentiation of grants between city and country centres would receive consideration' during the recess. The total vote passed unamended. The Committee then considered the New Zealand State Guaranteed Advances Account, £527,142. Mr. Allen said that the Government would satisfy the requirements of local bodies so far as was possible. The Government had exhausted tire borrowiag authority of £825,000, but there were commitments against that of £653,760. The balance between the amounts represented what was available for local bodies for the rest of the year. The Government was providing for loans up to £BOOO. " y

Mr. Russell asked if the State Guaranteed Department was not receiving annual repayments of a million pounds, which was largely available for rc-lend-ing. The Minister said .that there was a considerable low yearly on loans to local bodies. He estimated that at the 31st March next nothing would be available. As a matter of fact the loss made on loans to local bodies since 1910 was £22.557. and be had to make provision for it.