GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Waikato Argus, Volume I, Issue 30, 17 September 1896, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. SIB WALTER DULLER. Mr Bowhn presented a petition from Sir Walter Buller to be heard at the bar of the Council. THE LOAN BUti. In moving to commit the Loan Bill, the Minister of Education said that the item of £200,000 for the development of the goldlields included money for developing roads on goklfields, and the amount named included i'Gu.OOO which was already pledged for works in connection with the "Thames deep levels, works on the West Coast, and water conserving in Central Otago The question of proclaiming rivers and creeks as sludge channels would be taken up during the year, and the construction of roads on goldSolds wohM absorb the remainder. As to the item of £.10,000 for the development of the thermal spring districts, £:i.3.000 at least should be spent in the locality of Rotorua to put the place into a proper condition to accommodate visitors, and the Mount Cook health resort and othe>- places wanted opening up with roads and bridges. Of the £230,000 for land improvement £127,000 was already pledged. Of the £230,000 for native land purchase £BB,OOO was already pledged. Mr Ortnond said that a large part of the loans had been anticipated, and it was a grave departure from a practice which conserved the rights of Parliament for the Government to bringdown a Loan Bill without it being preceded by the Public Works Statement. He moved an amendment as a protest to the following effect, that before go ; ng into Committee the Council places on record its opinion that the Bill docs not give sufficient information as to the services for which the loan is to bo applied ; also that the Council regrets that the nonborrowing policy of the Government should be departed from on the eve of a general election ; but whereas the Council has been informed that the proposed loan has been largely anticipated such expenditure must be provided for, as a stoppage of all public works and consequent throwing out of employment of a la-ige number of persons would ensue, the Council docs not feel justified in refusing to allow the Bill to proceed. After discussion, Mr Ormoud's amendment was carried by 20 to 16. The Minister then gave notice to commit the Bill on the next sitting clay. ADVANCES TO .SETTLERS It* committee upon the Government Advances to Settlers Act Amendment Bill, Section 6, allowing advanccson suburban lauds, was struck oat, by 25 to 7. Sections 7, 8 and 9 were consequently struck out. Section 10, which allows of advances up to £4OOO, was struck out by 20 to 12. Sub-section 2, of Section 12, allowing advances on deferred paymeut on small grazing runs, was struck out, and the last Section, 12, was struck out on the motion of the Minister in charge, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. CHINESE IMMIGRATION". Mr Seddon gave notice of the introduction of a Chinese Immigration Bill. He said it had been decided to reserve the Asiatic. Restriction Bill for Her Majesty's a c scut, and, pending that assent being given, it was necessary to increase the poll tax, and take other precautions. OLD AtiE l'l-.N'SIONS. Mr Seddon moved the second reading of the OKI Age Pensions Bill, to provide for old age pulsions. He did so with very great pleasure, as he regarded this measure as the Bill of the session, and in fact the Bill of the present Parliament. The subject was not a new one in this country, for Sir H. Atkinson had suggested a scheme some years ago, but it had to be abandoned. The theory of old age pensions had been oft discussed all over the world, audit was for the House to give it practical application, taking into consideration the environments and surroundings of the colony. He referred to the millions of money raised for public woiks, and said that although the 'masses had to pay interest on this money, the people who were more directly benefitted were the large land owners. That being the ca;e lie said the Bill was not unreasonable. He pointed out that Ihs difficulties which lay in the path of an old age pi nsion fcheme in the old world had no existence yet in New Zealand, and the time was oppoitnne to prevent the curse of pauperism which pn.va : led in the countries of the eld world obtaining a hold in this young colony The annuity which it was pioposed to provide; under this Bill had been well earned by those who would be entitled to receive it. He would no doubt be met with the query, if all have to contribute, why should not all share in the pension, but his reply was that wealth should always contribute to the assistance <f the needy. In tho race of life tome had lagged behind, it. was monstrous to say that they should be punished for that. This scheme would in no way discourage thrift. 'lhcse who said it would do so knew little of human nature. He would no doubt be. met with the argument that the scheme would injure the friendly societies, but he expressed his conviction that so far from such Leing the ease, it would assist these societies financially. These societies had done grand work in the past, but it could not be deired that they were unable 1o grapple with a largo question like that of old ace pensions. This Bill provided the machine y of the scheme, and the question of ways and means would be decided when it was ascertained what amount was requbed. He had little doubt but that the representatives of the people would devise the ways and means. His own opinion was that under the Bill as it stood £230,000 per annum would be sufficient to met t the present requirements of the colony. He briefly sketched the details of the Bill, and expressed the hope that members would give the matter their mo;t serious consideration.

Captain Russtll said ilie Premier had taken six minutes to explain the provisions of the Bill, and had spent fiftyfour minutes in talking bunkum and twaddle. The whole thing was bunkum and nonsense iron; beginning to end, for the Premier had no intention ol passing the Pill. It was merely an eleetion move, lie did not think there was a member in the House who believed this Bill would reaeh the Statute Book, and his own opinion was that it would never pass the third reading in the House. The Premier did not want the Pill to pass. In faec, his object was to prevent its passing, so that lie might have an eleetion cry. His whole speech showed that he was net sincere in his utterances, and his voice was wanting in that genuine ring which was noticed when a man meant what he said.—Mr Seddon : If there is no opposition 1 will put the Bill through tonight.)—They were all agreed that some better provision should be made for the maintenance of the people in their old age, but this Pill would not solve the difficulty. Tf this Pill were the greatest Pill of the session, as the Premier had told them, how was it that he allowed three months of the session to elapse before bringing it down? The Prcmkr had told lliem that the large landholders had bcneliled from the public works and the masses had to pay for them, but the fact was the large landowners had persistently opposed borrowing, and it was the Legislative Council which generally put a check on borrowing. He agreed that the sooner they faced the old age pension question the better, but it should lie done by dealing with a comprehensive scheme and not an imperfect Bill like this. He objected to ii system which encouraged people to rely solely on the .State, and he believed the socialism which was now being so widely preached was the first

downward step in our civilisation, and would eventually lead to the destruction of our civilisat'on. If the Government would bring down a workable measure containing full information as to ways and means, he would he prepared to work with them in passing the Bill ; but the House would do wrong if it di i not insist en a comprehensive scheme being brought down in the place of the Bill now before them. MrCr. \V. Russell held that in order to remove the stigma of charity from tho scheme the) should p-ovide that every man and woman of 63 years of age, who had been twenty years in the colony, should he entitled* as a right to a pension, no matter whether they weic worth £IOO3 or £3O. That, to his mind, was the true principle of old age pensions. Mr T. Mael<enz : c said the member for Riccorton had deplored that taxation was heaped on tho woikers of the colony, when, as a matter of fact, Mr Russell himself followed the Premier on division a f tcr division in putting heavy additional duties on the workers of til•• colony. He opposed the Bill, and said its whole aim was to discourage Ihrilt, also hordes of people would come to the colony, and the country would be inundated with paupers. Mr Farnshaw said the scheme provided in the Bill would not benefit the workers, but the reverse. ])r Newman raid the scheme was an electioneering dodge, and nothing else. He was prepared to support the Bill, but it must be considerably altered in committee, for unless ways and means were provided for the scheme it would be a sham. The Premier was simply playing to the galleries in introducing this Bill, which was not worth the paper it was printed on. Mr Collins said it appeared to him that every member who spoke on the BUI agreed as to its principle. The question was surrounded with great difficulties, but they should endeavour to grapple with those diffi:ult ; es. They were told the Government were simply humbugging the House over this mitter, but if he thought tint, he could not find words strong enough to condemn such conduct, as it was cruelty to the old people to postpone the matter. Mr O'Regan supported the principle of the Bill, but said he would vote against the third reading unless it was materially altered in committee. There were only two pioposals in the Bill which met with his approval, namely, the increase of the graduated land tax, and the increase of the death duties by graduation. Mr Seddon in his reply denied that the Bill was an electioneering dodge. He referred to the charge of insinc-. rity made against him by the Leader of the Opposition, and said although tint same charge had been hurled against the Liberal party for the past five years measure after measure of reform hud been placed on the Statute Book, and difficulty after difficulty had been surmounted. It was impossible that the workers should contribute towards this scheme, as their means would not permit them to do so. He said he had not had an opportunity of bringing this Bill on earlier in the session, and he was rpiite prepared to put it through this week. The second reading was carried by 42 to six.