PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9673, 22 December 1909, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, December 21. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 o'clock. On the motion of the Hon. C. M. Luke (Wellington), it was agreed that the Government take into consideration the establishment in the four large centres ot institutions of epileptics unfit for treatment in other hospitals. The debate on the second reading of the Native Land bill was resumed by the Hon. W. W. McCardle (Auckland), and others, and the Council rose at 5.30 o'clock. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. In the House this afternoon the debate on the Customs Duties Amendment Bill was continued by Messrs Herries and Ell. The Hon. G. Fowlds contended that the working classes had received the benefit of the decrease in the customs duties. He denied Ihe state- ' ments of the Opposition that the duties to be levied under tne Bill would be permanent. They would only be imposed until March, 1911. ' On a division the second reading; was carried by 43 votes to 23. The second reading of the Old Ap s Pensions Amendment Bill vexs moved by Sir J. G. Ward, who explained the object of the Bill, which is to provide for owners of homes being allowed pensions. Mr W. F. Massey said that he would support the second reading, and reserve his criticism for the committee stage. Mr J. Allen (Bruce) said that he could find no reference in the Bill to the property limit mentioned by Sir 1 J. G. Ward, or to the property value of £340, and said the effect of the Bill would be to make owners of properties ten times worse off than they were at present as regards Old Age Pensions.

Mr T. ;e; Tayolr. (Ghristcharch ijforth) approved of the principle of 1 the Bill,- which was a valuable concession to, humanitarian principles, T and he credited'tue Government with ' courage in granting the concession' 1 at a time f wheiv many financial de- ' roands were being made upon it. Sir J. G. Ward explained the 1 comparative effects of the existing law, and those of the Bill as follows: —Taking a house valued at £2OO a single, person owning the same under the present law would get £34 pen- ; sion, under the Bill, £26; housa of the value of £250, present aystem £l6, under the Bill £26;. £300: A siagle person at present receives £ll, under the Bill £26. A married couple at present would receive £l9 each, un- - der the Bill £26 each. A man own- - ing a £SOO property at present is ; debarred from a pension, but under r the Bill would be entitled to £lO, •' and a married couple to £9 each. The cost of the concessions would amount to £25,000 per year. The second reading was agreed to. The following bills passed their second reading:—Race Meeting, Urewera' Native District Reserves, Workers' Compensation Amendment, Reformatory Institutions, New Zealand Society of Accountants, Magistrate's Court Amendment. The House went into committee on various Bills, and the House rose at 5 o'clock. The House in the evening went into committee on the Customs Duties Amendment Bill. Mr Massey moved to strike tobacco , out 'of the* dutiable articles under ' } clause 2of fHe Bill,' On a division the amendment waff lofct-by 44 to 27, and the* Bill Was reported with > minor amendments. On consideration of the Old Age Pensions Amendment Bill, Mr Massey said members did not understand the Bill, and he asked the Prime Minister if he would have a table printed showing the effect of the sliding scale proposed under'.the Bill in regard to property owned by pensioners. Sir J. G. Waid replied ihit ha would have this done, and the table circulated among meml er^. On the motion of Sir J. G. Ward, clause 5 was amended so as to ex- f elude property transferred to the Public Trustee from the operation of the Bill, vvnich was reported, with amendments.