POLITICAL NOTES.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 337, 6 September 1898, Page 2

POLITICAL NOTES.

(bytklegraph- special correspondent) OLD AGE PENSIONS. Wkllinoton, Last Night. TIIKBE is a marked difference in the tone of the debate on the Old Age Pensions Bill this year, as compared with Inst session, aud tho House is evidently beginning to realise the magnitude of die scheme to which the colony is likely to he committed. The Opposition were attacked last session by the Government side of the House, and were, charged with having no sympathy with the aged prior, because they dated to question where the money was to nome from to pay the pension. On Friday night, however, the Premier made a very moderate speech, and urged the House not to import any petty feeling into the matter, The member for Cavershum also adopted a similar tone, and went so far as to say that, if the Act were found to be unworkable, it could be repealed. Mr Carncross, another strong Ministerialist, went further, and said the Bill brought down Ly the Premier did not indicate the high Statesmanship which they had a righc to expect in a matter dealing with such an important subject. It was only a distribution of charitable aid under a more popular name. It would not decrease the cost of charitable aid, which was chiefly distributed among the younger people. Any pension scheme should, in his opinion, be on a contributory basis, and it should have ft general application to all those who wished to provide tor their old age. The present Bill is certainly an improvement in one respect on the Bill of last year, which allowed people to claim pensions who possessed property worth £9OO, whereas the Bill of this session reduced the amount to £540, or £52 a year. The Premier estimated that £99,000 will be required for old age pensions next year, but other members consider the scheme is likely to cost nearly £200,000 a year. It must not be forgotten either that there are a good many Maoris in the colony who are 65 years of age and who could claim pensions of £lB a year. It is of course admitted by everybody that the principle of providing for old age is an admirable one, but the chief objection to the Bill is that it will be a most serious strain on the consolidated revenue of the colony, and many members consider the money should be provided in some other manner. It is pointed out that the country settlers will undoubtedly suffer by the present proposal, and its stands to reason that if old age pensions cost the colony two hundred thousand pounds a-year, there will be precious little money left for roads and bridges. Captain Russell, during the debate,advocated a scheme by which people who paid six-pence a week from twenty to sixty-five years of age, should receive a pension of twenty pounds ayear ; but he thought the best plan would be to refer the whole matter to a Royal Commission. Mr Rolleston also regarded the Bill as a failure to deal with old age pensions, and though it was the duty of the State to encourage and subsidise voluntary insurance, it was also the business of the State to deal with this measure as part of the muchlarger question of charitable aid. Tne debate on the Bill will probably be resumed to-morrow. POLICE COMMISSION. I understand the report and the evidence taken before the Police Commission will be brought down to the House to morrow. A very lively debate is anticipated when the report of the Commission is considered by Messrs Taylor and Co. MR J AS. ALLEN. The last San Fraucisco mail brought letters from the member for Bruce, to the effect that he had booked passages by the Gothic for himself, Mrs Allen and Miss Allen. The Gothic left Capetown for Hobart and Wellington on the 27th August, so that Mr Allen should be able to take his seat in the House about the 10th of this month. JOTTINGS. The Minister for Lands is much better to-day, but it is likely to be a day or two longer before he takes his seat iu the House. Professor Dante, the clever juggler, asked for four honest men to act as a committee at the Opera House on Saturday night, aud the audience selected four well-known members of the Opposition (Messrs Scobie Mackenzie, Massey, Moore and Monk).