GENERAL ASSEMBLY,

Waikato Argus, Volume III, Issue 223, 16 December 1897, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY,

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. ' THE POWERS OF THK COUNCIL " Mr T. Kelly moved, "That it was the constitutional light of the Council ' to amend the machinery clauses of Bills containing money clauses, and f providing the money clauses were not dealt with, it was no infringement of the privileges of the House of Representatives to amend the other clauses of such Bills." He surveyed the previous action of the Council with regard to money ' Bills, and contended that the Council had 1 an undoubted right to amend the Old , Age Pensions Bill. Mr Bowen held that the carrying of the motion could have no effect, as Mr Kelly had not challenged the ruling of the Speaker that this Bill was a money Bill. Mr McGrPCor asked tho Council to in- , Mst or. its right to amend the Old Age Pensions Bill, and urged that the Council could amend every clause of the Bill except the appropriation clause. The Speaker explained that in his ruling he had vainly sought to escape from the position which impaired the value of the Upper House as a branch of the legislature. The Minister of Education trusted that the Council would not submit to having its hands tied owing to an error of judgment on the part of the Speaker. The motion was agreed to on the voices. OLD AQK PENSIONS. Mr Jennings resumed the debate en the second reading of the Old Age Pensions Bill, strongly supporting the mensure ; but as 70 per cent, of the workers did not reach the nge-of 65. and the average age of death of mechanical labourers was as low as 48 years, the age fixed by the Bill was too high. Dr. Grace pointed out many difEoul-ti-s which would result from the Bill. Messrs Arkwright, Swausoc and Jones supported the Bill. Mr Bolt considered tho financial proposals very unsatisfactory, and outlined a scheme based on insurance, which, he said, would be ths only satisfactory method of solving the question. The Bill was partial in it* operation, but as he had always advocated old ace pensions he would vote for this imperfect measure. Mr Montgomery objected to the compulsory contributions as impossible, and considered the money for pensions should be approptiated annually. Messrs L. Walker, McGregor, Scotland and Taiaroa opposed the Bill, and Messrs Beeves, Pinkerton, T. Kvlly and Jenkinson supported it. On division, the motion for the second reading was lost by 21 to 15, the following being the division list : Ayes (15)—Messrs McCullough, Barnicoat, Smith, W. Kelly, Kerr, Rigg, Jones, Jenkinson, Harris, Reeves, Fcldwick, Pinkerton, Jennings, Bolt and W. C. Walker. Noes (20)—Messrs L. Walker, Stewart, Bichardson, Baillie, Bowen, Scotland, McGregor, Swanson, Shrimski, Tairoa, Bouar, Stevens, Ormond, Grace, Holmes, McLean, Williams, Peacock, Montgomery and Reynolds. Pairs—Ayes : Messrs T. Kelly, Arkwright and Kenny. Against : Messrs Johnston, Olliver and Morris. The motion to insert Mr Bonar's amendment to lay aside the Bill was then carried by 19 to 7. SECOND READINGS. The Masters and Apprentices Bill was read a second time pro forma, as was also the Land for Settlement Act Amendment B'll. FINAL STAGES. The Consolidated Stock Act Amend' ment Bill, Members of the House of Representatives Disqualification Bill, and the Fisheries Encouragemt nt Act Amendment Bill passed their final stages. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. TAX ON COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS. A Land and Income Assessment Act Amendment Bill, relieving commercial travellers from the tax now levied on them, was introduced and passed through all its stages. THE MAIL SERVICES. Mr Seddon moved resolutions relating to the San Francisco and Vancouver mail services. The details have been already published. After some considerable discussion, the resolutions were agreed to, with the addition that the steamers must bo not Ices than 3000 tons gross tonnage, and that the seamen employed must be paid the wages ruling in New Soath Wales. MASTER AND APPRENTICES BILL. This Bill was further considered in committee. Clause 3, apprentices. Mr Monk moved to strike out tho subsection providing that no young person shall be apprenticed except by deed of partnership under this Act.—Lost by 36 to 16 Clause 15, wages of apprentices. Mr Holland moved that apprentices shall be paid in the third year 25 per cent, of the standard rate payable to journey men, instead of 35 per cent. — Curried by 27 to 20. Mr Holland eventually agreed to the insertion of 30 per cent, for the third year, and 40 per cent, instead of 50 for the fourth year, and the clause as amended was carried by 28 to 10. On Clause 21, Mr Smith moved that the Act should apply to all skilled handicrafts carried on by the Government. Mr Seddon thought Mr Smith bad better leave the Government alone in this respect. He should not consult to have the Bill destroyed by amendments of this kind. ' After a lengthy debate, the amendment was lo3t by 24 to 23. Several new clauses were added to tho Bill. Mr R. McKenzie moved as a new clause that the Bill should only have effect in boroughs of 5000 inhabitants or over.—Lost by 30 to 17. The Bill was then read a third time and passed. YOUNG PERSONS PROTECTION DILI,. This Bill was considered in committee, and several amendments made. THE BANK BILL. Mr Seddon, in introducing the Bill, said it was based on the recommendation of tho committee of last session, and was mainly a machinery measure. It was absolutely necessary that they should decide whether the management of tht bank was satisfactory. He thought a change desirable. The Bill provides for an enlarged representation of the colony. It might be said the proposed Board was too large (9) that could be decided in committee. The Bill also provides for a Standing Committee to 1 e olected by the Board itself. He thought they should have an auditor in Wellington, also a colonial inspector. He proposed to ask in committee to strike out the clause requiring all bauks to have assets in the colony equal to their liabilities. As to limiting the time for the disposal oi properties b elonging to the banks, be thought these should be disposed of within a reasonable time. He would, however, withdraw tho clause at present Respecting the properties of the Bank, he said those which had been disposed of had realised fair pP Mr Rolleston said the Premier had not shown any reason for introducing the Bill. He did not think they were justified in making the Bank more of a political institution than it was. He looked up on the Bill as practically making the Govemor-in-Council the directorate of the Bank and as tending to the PStablishment of a State Bank. They should endeavour to get rid of the Bank as soon a? possible. The proposed increase in the directorate would be anything but beneficial to the institution. He thought .he smaller the Board the less chance b

there would be of mischievous interference and the less there would be of the leakage of private affairs. After several other member* had spoken and the Premier had replied the second reading was carried by 42 to 20.