GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Waikato Argus, Volume III, Issue 212, 20 November 1897, Page 4

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. WEDNESDAY. THE FSTI.MATKS. Clause 14, Police Department. Mr I'irani moved to report progress. Mr Seddon said he had reason to complain of the treatment the Government were receiving in connection with the Estimates. It was understood that if certain clauses were taken the remainder would be finished in one evening. The non-passage of the Estimates was blocking business and paralysing the work of the House.—The motion was negatived. Vole Police Department, .1)105,666. Mr Taylor asked for information as to the scope and order of reference uf the Police Commission, The Hon. T. Thompson said the Coinmission would inquire into the organisation of the force. It was at Mr Tunbridge's request he had been put, upon the Commission. f»™ Mr Taylor said the Minister's answer as to the scope of the Commission was most unsatisfactory, and demanded a more definite statement. The police vote was eventually carried. Some other items were dealt with and discussions arose on each. Mr Seildon then asked the Opposition to discontinue obstruction of the estimates and preserve the good name of the House. Capt. Russell was much obliged to the Premier for his advice to the Opposition, but the Opposition felt they had a duty to perform in this matter. If the Premier would fix a day for bringing on the resolution dealing with the officers of the House and tor setting up the select committees, and if he would also give them the information they asked tor on several other subjects they would at once cease their obstruction to the estimates. They felt that if they allowed the estimates to pass without making this protest they would have no possible chance of redressing any grievance at all. He (Capt. Russell)'had never during his 20 years in Parliament known it so difficult to get information.

Mr Seddon said Capt. Russell had now admitted the Opposition had been deliberately obstructing the Estimates and had stated their object in doing so. If that was the constitutional way of proceeding it was new to him, and he now stated with a proper sense of the responsibility cast upon him, that ho was not prepared to accept the alternative offered him by the Opposition leader. It was therefore a question whether or not the Government with a majority in the House and country must rule, or whether the Opposition were to rule. He distinctly stated he could not be forced into the position which the Opposition wished to put him. Mr Rolleston said lie bad pointed out on a previous night that, it was not proper that the Committees should not be set up, or that the officers of the House should not be put in a proper position. lie thought it improper that they should bo forced to put through the whole of the Estimates in this manner, and said it was a wrong tiling to grant .Supply before a lirge amount of public business for which the country was crying out was transacted. The Hon. .1. Mckenzie said he had never during 17 years known an instance of this kind, where the Opposition had deliberately stonewalled business from the beginning of the session. The course they had taken was unprecedented, and the Premier was perfectly right in taking the stand he had done. After another lengthy discussion had taken place. Mr Seddon intimated that as a result of a conference between himself and the leader of the Opposition, it had been decided to put the remaining classes of the Estimates through at the present sitting. He detailed the arrangements arrived at respecting sessional committees, under which the Oppotition is to be given proportional representation. As to tin I'olice Commission, he stated that his mind was quite open as to the appointment of Mr Tunbridge to the Commission. Cuptain Russell intimated that Mr Seddon has given an accurate account of the arrangement arrived at. The Estimates were then concluded. THURSDAY. OLD AGE TENSION BILL. The Premier moved the second reading of this Pill. He said he desired very much to fee this Bi.l passed, nearly every member was pledged to pass this measure. If it were attempted to make the pensions payable to all no Bill would pass. Those who argued that the pensions should be paid to all were illogical and they evidenced that they were not favourable to any measure, lie had reduced the pension payable from 10j per week, as the strain upon the finances would be too great. Under the present proposals there need be no anxiety about finance. To say that the granting of pensions would prevent thrift was a reflection on the people of the colony, lie Inul no hesitation in saying that with our present finance £ 108,000 per annum could be provided. One chief reason for passing the measure was the unsatisfactory system of charitable aid. Capt. Russell said the providing of pensions had puzzled more acute brains than the Premier's. The effect ot the measure would be to create a pauper class. There was only one practicable scheme of old age pensions under which there shall be contributions by those who arc to benefit, and all classes of the community alike shall benefit. There should be no question of charitable aid in the scheme, and it should be recegnbeil that any person on attaining a certain age should without any inquiry into tin ir character be entitled to a pension. He contended that a careful scrutiny of the surplus of this year and the anticipated surplus for next wou'd show that the finances of the scheme have already broken down. Mr Heddon said he had gnat dilliculty in replying on this Bill, especially alter I'.-tening to the last three speeches. They bad, however, heard the same speeches over and over again about discouraging thrift, and increasing taxation. Regarding Mr Sligo's speech be said that lion, gentleman and others hail been trying to kill the Bill with kindness, and to get other members to oppose it, but he hoped there were sufficient members in the House who would pass the Bill, which would prevent their aged people from suffering what they suflered in the old country. Captain Russell had accused him of insincerity, but he laid tint members had no right to question hi,- sincerity. It was the present Government who found C'lo,ooo for old soldiers'claims, and who had initialed the advances to settlers scheme, That scheme was condemned as being impossible to finance, but was working well, and with great benefit to the people. Were tic Government not sincere over the wi men'.- franchise '■ He assei led unhesitatingly that il it weie not for the Government the franchise would uevei have been granted,