Mr. WORTH1NGTON-EVANSI beg to ask leave to bring in a Bill to amend the Old Age Pensions Act, 1908. This is a very short Bill. It contains but one clause. It deals with what I venture to think the House will agree is an important subject, namely, the amendment of the Old Age Pensions Act. The Bill proposes to prevent those members of friendly societies who are in receipt of sick or superannuation allowance, being deprived of their pension by reason of the income made up in that way exceeding the present statutory limit. The law at present stands in a most curious position. For parochial purposes those benefits are not treated so, although for national purposes the member receiving these benefits is deprived of his old age pension. The principle of the exemption of members of friendly societies has already been admitted in the Outdoor Relief Friendly Society Acts of 1894 and 1904. Under the Act of 1894, the House will remember, permissive power was given to guardians to disregard in the consideration of cases of out-relief the income derived by a mem- 1902 ber of a friendly society from sick or superannuation allowance. That permissive Act was still further extended by the Act of 1904. By that Act it became compulsory for guardians to disregard the income of applicants for outdoor relief so far as that income was derived from sick or superannuation allowance obtained as a member of a friendly society.
§ Mr. SPEAKERAs I understand the proposal of the hon. Gentleman, it involves an additional charge upon the public revenue. That being so, it must be introduced in Committee of the Whole House; it cannot be introduced by a private Member.
Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANSCan I put the matter in order in this way. I believe that in another place, when the Outdoor Relief Friendly Societies Bill was under consideration, that objection was taken similarly, and the matter was put in order by some mysterious words being added at the end of the Clause to the effect "That nothing herein shall cause the expenditure of public funds." If I am not out of order I would like to propose to add such words to the Clause which is now in the Bill.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is not possible in this House. The device to which the hon. Gentleman refers is one constantly adopted when impositions and charges suggested by the other House are brought before this House for consideration. But if this House takes the initiative the matter must be brought in in the ordinary way in Committee.
Mr. WORTHINGTON-EVANSShall I be out of order if I appeal to the Government to take this measure up?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member can appeal to the Government, but not on this occasion.