PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 May 1916, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

WAR PENSIONS BILL. ALLOWANCE FOR CHILDREN. By Telegraph.—Press Association, Wellington, Last Night. The House of Representatives net «t| 2.30 p.m. The Invercargill Athenaeum and the Mangawhero County Bills were read a first time.

An amendment was introduced Governors message to the War Pensions Amendment Bill, providing for an increase in the amount for children from ■ 5s to 7s (Id per week, Mr, Massey Mid that another amendment to be proposed was that widows with inoomes of £flOtt yearly would not be entitled to a pension, but their children would receive pensions. The Bill was then considered in cofa« nrittee, and discussion on the lines. o£ | the second reading debate followed. The motion for the reading of the first ' clause lasted until the 6.30 adjourn-: - inent. - .<

In reply to objections, Mi. Allen pointed out that the pensions proposed were - . s insuperably superior to those offered by ' Australia, also that it might tie possible to further improve them after thq war, when the full responsibility bad been » ascertained. '

Mr. Ell remarked that he thought the country was wealthy enougli to do more . in regard to pensions than it wag doing. Mr. Witty asked what right tfhoy ihad to conscript married men unless they were prepared to make full provision for theift wives and families in case ot ' death or disablement. Mr. Webb strongly argued in favor of more liberal pension#, i Mr. Brown made a strong appeal that lie pension for widows should be increased. and urged a further .increase of death duties to bo devoted to widows. He regretted haggling over an extra five shillings for women deprived oitheir husbands by the war. 1 Mr. Massey said the Government *a» • not being treated fairly by the discussion. He suggested that the Bill be alloweO to go on, as amendments could be made, if necessary, in committee. Tt they wanted further time for ool»idera« tion let progress Ibe reported. .wj At 9.30 the first clause was passed in Clause 9. , .iv. An amendment, which was proposed ■ by the Minister, debarring widows with incomes of £6OO per year from' receiv- * ing pensions, was agreed to. A new clause was proposed providing that a person of notoriously bad char- , acter should be refused a pension. Mr. Massey agreed to have the clause worded to meet certain representations by members. The remainder of the Bill was panei, The House rose at 10.45 p.m. . !j