GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 346, 27 September 1898, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. SATURDAY. The House of Representatives sat in committee till 12 o'clock on Saturday night, but no progress was made with the Old Age Pensions Bill, as the Opposition blocked business as a protest against the system of forcing important measures through the House at very late hours. MONDAY. The House met at 7.30 p,m. The consideration of the Old Age Pension Bill in Committee and the motion that progre.s be reported oa Clause 8, was resumed. Captain Russell contended that the present sitting was not a continuation of ( Friday's sitting, and pointed out that had it been so the Committee should have resumed at 1 a.m on Monday. Mr Seddon said aa progress was not reported on Saturday night, the sitting was a continuous one. He suggested that progress be reported hi order that the Speaker's opinion be taken on the matter, and pointed out that the motion to report progress, which had been under discussion on Saturday, had lapsed. After discussion the Chairman of Com mittees ruled supporting Mr Seddon'a view of the matter, and on the motion of Mr Seddon progress was reported in order to take the Speaker's opinion on the subject. The Speaker having had the position explained to him, ruled tint the sitting was a continuous one. Mr Seddon intimated that before Monday next he would give an opportunity for the consideration of private members and local bills. Capt, Russell, in personal explanation, said the attitude of the Opposition on the Bill had been misunderstood. The Opposition held it to have been their'duty to most carefully and critically examine the provisions of the Bill and to demand the aid of Minsters and members to carry amendments wiiich may be held to improve the Bill. They contended it was not the duty of the Government party to b.ock the Opposition in their endeavours to criticise the Bill, but there had been tacit obstruction on the part of the Government party. There was do intention on the part of the Opposition to block the passage of the Bill, but they would object to continue their deliberations at unreasonable hours. Mr Seddon said he had no objection to the Bill Icing critically examined, but he did complain of second-reading speeches being made on the clauses of the Bill. He would lie prepared to accept amendments which were in the direction of improving the Bill, but the discussion or non-discu?sion of those amendments must be left to individual members. He accepted Captain Russell's assurance that it had not been intended to b:ock the Bill ; but he considered there had been too many speeches in support of the amendments, many of which had been a repetition of the same argumsuts. Sub-clause 2 &f Clause 8, was agreed to. To the third sub-clause, which provides that a person shall be entitled to a pension, if during 10 years' previous to the date of substantiating his claim, he has not been imprisoned for four months or on four occasions for any offence, punishable by imprisonment tor twelve months or upwards, and dishonouring him in the public estimation, An amendment was proposed by Mr Buchanan to make the term during which the offences arc committed 12 instead of 10 years. Airreed to by 39 to lb'. Other amendments to the sub-clause were negatived. Sub-clause 4 was amended to provide that desertion at any time, instead of five years, within the substantiation of the claim shall disqualify, and the subclause was agreed to. (Left sitting at midnight.]