NGARUAWAHIA.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 314, 14 July 1898, Page 2

NGARUAWAHIA.

Debating Society. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Debating Society was held in the Town Hall on Friday last. The attendance was not so good as at previous meetings. The evening was a Parliamentary one. the subject of discussion being "The Old Age Pension Bill." Mr D. McKenzie occupied the position of Speaker, and Mr VV. Paterton as Clerk of the House. The Ministry consisted of Mr T. U. Wells, Premier and Minister ot Education ; Mr Fitz patrick, Colonial Treasurer and Post-master-General ; Mr Haulon, Minister for Lands, Railways, and Labour; the Rev. A. M. Bradbury, Minister of Justice and Defence ; Mr Edwards, Minister of Public Works ; and Mr Greaves, Native Minister. On the Opposition Benches were Messrs Skelton (Leader of the Opposition), Davies, Burr, Roper and F. Hunt. A good number of humorous questions were asked by the Opposition and answered by the various Ministers. Mr Wells, as Premier, in a short, but pointed speech, brought forward the Bill, which by-theway went a step further than Mr Seddon's Bill, in that it provided a pension for everyone over the age of 65 years who had been resident in the colony for 20 years. Mr ISkelton followed criticising the Bill. Messrs Fitzpatriok, Haulon and Bradbury also spoke in its favour, while Messrs Davies and Roper opposed it. At the conclusion a vote was taken, which gave a small majority in favour of Olcl Age Pensions,—(Own Correspondent).