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1901. NEW ZEALAND.

OLD-AGE PENSIONS REGULATIONS COMMITTEE: REPORT ON THE OLD-AGE PENSIONS REGULATIONS MADE UNDER SUBSECTION (2) OF SECTION 63 OF "THE OLD-AGE PENSIONS ACT, 1898," TOGETHER WITH THE EVIDENCE TAKEN THEREON. (Mr. LAURENSON, CHAIRMAN.)

Brought up on the 6th day of November, and ordered to be printed.

OBDEB OF BEFEEENCE. Extract from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Wednesday, the 10th Day or July, 1901. Ordered, " That a Select Committee be appointed, consisting of ten members, to whom shall be referred the Old-age Pensions Regulations made under subsection (2) of section 63 of " The Old-age Pensions Act, 1898 "; three to form a quorum: the Committee to consist of Mr. Arnold, Mr. Field, Mr. W. Fraser, Mr. Hanan, Mr. Herries, Mr. Hogg, Mr. Laurenson, Mr. Lethbridge, Mr. Palmer, and the mover.—(Bt. Hon. B. J. Seddon.)

REPOBT. The Committee to whom was referred the above-mentioned regulations have the honour to report that they have held a number of sittings to consider the advisability of altering or amending the regulations under which the Old-age Pensions Act is administered ; that they have examined a number of witnesses, including Mr. Haselden, S.M., Mr. Mason (Eegistrar) and Mr. Mansfield (Deputy-Registrar), Wellington ; and Mr. Taylor (Deputy-Registrar), Dunedin; and the nature of the evidence brought before them indicated the necessity of the Deputy-Registrar appearing in Court when pension claims were under consideration ; also the wisdom of giving Magistrates power to examine any bank official or other person likely to hold money on investment from applicants for the pension; but as both these suggestions have been embodied in the amending Bill passed by the House this session, your Committee recommend that the regulations stand as they are for the present, but that, in view of the amending Act, they be further considered next session. Your Committee recommend that the evidence given be printed. 6th November, 1901, George Laueenson, Chairman.

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