PARLIAMENTARY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 652, 2 June 1882, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Thursday, June 1. NEW MEMBER. The Hon. George McLean took the oath and his seat. FINANCIAL. An Imprest Supply Bill for L 300,000 was passed through all stages. - i ■ QUESTIONS. In reply to questions, it was stated that the Government would, when amending the Gaming and Lotteries Act, make vision to allow lotteries of needlework for educational purposes.—The Government would contribute L 250 to the London Fisheries Exhibition in 1883, and would receive and forward all exhibits free. SECOND READINGS. The Affirmations and Declarations Bill and the Married Women’s Property Bill, were read a second time. The Council adjourned at 4.45

HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. Thursday, June 1. The House met at 2.30 p.m. PETITIONS. Mr Dargaville presented a petition, praying that the grounds known ; as Government House grounds, Auckland, bo sot apart for Auckland College purposes. Mr Macandrew presented a petition from Wi Parata, setting forth that he had been authorised to engage ’ counsel and transact business for Te Whiti, and f praying that ho (Ta Whiti) might ,bellowed to appear at the bar of the House..-by counsel. He gave notice of. motion., for to-morrow that the petition be taken into consideration forthwith. NOTICES.

Sir George Grey gave notice thatrhe would ask whether arrangements, wouhfcbe made for the Attorney-General being made a member cf the House of Representatives. j.

Mr Pyke gave notice of motion effect that members bear the expense of printing their speeches in “ Hansard,’ and that the amount be deducted from their honorarium. ■ ; Captain M'Kenzie gave notice that, kfi would move that stops be taken for providing servants engaged on public works the same number of holidays as they get in other colonies.

Mr Fish gave notice that he would ask if provision would be made for enabling seamen afloat to exercise the franchise within their respective districts.

AN OVERWORKED ENGINE-DRIVER., The Hon. Mr Johnston, in reply to the statement made the previous evening by Mr Fish, that the driver of the engine who was fatally injured at Kartigi. had been forty-five hours on duty immediately before the accident, said he had made inquiries into the statement, with the result that he had ascertained that immediately before the accident the man had been off duty for fourteen hours at Palmerston. Mr Fish said that his statement was that in consequence of an order to -be ready at any moment, and the leaky state of the engine, this man had to be in attendance there on duty the whole of the fourteen hours. If the Minister would inquire into that circumstance, a different light would be thrown on the matter.

QUESTIONS. In reply to questions various Ministers stated—The report of the Commission on the Seaward Bush railway route had not been received, but further information would bo forthcoming when the Public Works Statement was made. —An impartial inquiry should be made into the cause of the dissatisfaction with the general management of the Waikato railway.—lt was not intended to throw open all at once the large area of Crown lands in Canterbury, withdrawn from sale on the 27ch August, 1878. Their withdrawal, however, would be made from time to time, so as to suit the convenience otbona fide settlement. —A measure had been introduced into the Legislative Council to regulate fishing for imported fish in New; Zealand rivers.—Government had under serious consideration the Oraaranui case, and but for the so-called late Ministerial crisis the Waipawa case might have been settled. It was expected, however, that it would be accomplished in the terms; already understood, at au early date.—

Further inquiries would be made, and. if - - - found necessary further accommodation - . would be provided at the West Oxford • -railway station.— Government would con;aider what necessity existed for amending ■" the Grown Eedress Act, so as to give legal • ‘ redress to persons having claims against - the Government notarising out of con- . tracts.—Government was not aware of ,■ any necessity existing for amending the Registration of Electors Act, 1870, in the ■ way of providing more complete rolls.— The propriety of reducing fares on the Government railways was under consideration,' aind would shortly bo decided - upon.—lt was not in the power of the . r Government to direct the expenditure of the education vote so as to refund the 10 - per cent, reductions made upon the salaj r ries . of schoolmasters. —Government . ~ would consider the question of refunding the unseated candidates for Franklyn ; North and Wakanui their costs, the oloc- . tion having been rendered void by the acts of the Government officials. It was not usual for the Government undertake responsibilities for its officials in matters of this kind. . ‘ : FIRST BRACINGS.

The following Bills were introduced and read a first time Central Otago Goldflelds Reserves (Mr Be Lautour); To Amend the Public Offenders Disqualifications Act, 1876 (Mr Levestam) ; North Timaru Cemetery Sale (Mr Turnbull).

, - ; , MOTIONS. ' The following motions were adopted : Mr Sheppard—A return showing for each borough and county the expense incurred in the election of licensing committees. A return showing for each borough and county the expense incurred in taking the local option vote under the Licensing Act. Mr O’Callaghan—For a return of the revenue, expenditure, number of pupils, and other particulars relating to the Agricultural College in Canterbury. The House rose at 5. SO, and resumed at £3O. EDUCATION.

Mr Pyke moved the second reading of the Education Act Amendment Bill. He had -no desire to disturb the existing system, but simply asked that other than 'public schools should receive assistance, provided they conformed to certain provisions provided for by the Act, such as qualification of teachers, standards, inspectors, etc. As regards matters of religion, the Bill 'was liberal enough to meet the views of all classes of the community. He dwelt at some length on the importance of a diversity of the system of education being provided for the development of the intellectual faculties. The consequence of educating all children under a particular standard- - was calculated to thwart that, diversity of character upon which so much of the greatness of our nation depended, At present there was one-fifth, of the number of children attending school in the colony receiving education at other than public schools. They were doing an error in causing religious teaching to be excluded from schools, and also in excluding the Word of God.

Mr Dobson seconded. He thought the concession asked for only reasonable. With Catholics, this was a question of conscience, and he thought they were as much bound to respect the consciences of that class as they were to consult their own.

Mr J. Evans Brown moved as an amendment —“ That the Bill be read that day six months.” They had been told that a large sum of money was being spent, and here they were making a proposal to increase that expenditure. It would be better to take a division on the motion at once, and allow them to proceed with the more important business. Messrs Barron, Rutherford, Daniel, I- Q’Callaghan, Bracken,-Steward, Duncan, -- Joyce, and Watt, supported the measure. *■' Mr Weston boro testimony to the great efforts made by the Catholics for the education of their children, and be was in a position to bear personal testimony to the efficiency of the instruction given in the schools established, but when they were asked to place the Catholics in a different position to the members of any other Church, then hq put down his hand and said he could not possibly'acquiesce. He asked if they could not meet for the education. of their children on a common ground? If once they placed different religions on a separate platform they would have bigotry arising coupled with religions rancour and animosities. He desired to see equal advantages to all ; but once they put one religious body against another, they would return to old times of priestcraft, when there was no individual liberty. If denominationalism , -r would not'See a school at all in many places. Every denomination in a scattered district would not be able to support their separate schools. He hoped present arrangements would not be disturbed, and that they would not prevent the children of every religion standing side by side. He would vote against the Bill. Mr Sheehan insisted that our educational system was one which ought to recognise no distinctions. He was himself a Catholic. The cause of education had its beet'friends irt the Catholic religion. His election turned on the votes of Catholics, and he was asked if he would vote on this BilL The reply he made was “ No,” and he repeated that he would not be a consenting party to alter the present system of free, secular, and compulsory education. The result would be to get the .Bible introduced into the State and vjatnolic schools where they were. He respected the Colonial Secretary for the answer he gave the other day that he would not consent to any alteration of the Act as it stood. They had all come from countries which had been kept hack by religions differences. Here they were building up a great State, and let them do nothing that would disturb that. It was very like an attempt, on the part of the priesthood, to reduce their own -« ,«•lyisflxpt-labor belotv ’the,' eight hours’ r " '.movement,' and cast their-duties on the - State. The moment they carried this Bill they would have a number of independent schools governed by their own denomination. He would oppose the -motion, believing that the salvation of the State depended upon the Act remaining as it was. Mr M. W, Green spoke against the Bill, which, if ever carried, would have the effect of making a break up in the educational system. The Hon. W. Rolleston had listened to Mr Sheehan with a great deal of interest, and he agreed in much that he had said. It was upon this question more than any other that the building up of a nation depended. What was asked was something that would deprive them more than anything of the opportunity of becoming a united people. The question had been settled by the people themselves. He watched the late elections closely, and he said this was looked upon by New Zealand as a settled question, not to be re-opened except after a direct appeal to the people upon it. He regretted the divorce of religion from education. His theory was that there was no incompatibility between religion and science; on the contrary, he argued that the more they educated the human mind the baiter they enabled that mind to grasp the saving truths of religion. _ . Messrs Fulton, Shrimski, Petrie, Fish, Lcvestam, Dick, and Sir George Grey opposed tho Bill, the latter gentleman slating that ii the intention was only to aid tho Catholic Church, a Rill should be accordingly, but they .should not” tbis wide dopr for evil to bo a^-psoy’ect : ,the adjournment of * - 1 ’mmlau, which, 'Was negatived by' 63 agayffiftPl ‘-sud Hia motion.' for the second hi- : .. - .■ •

reading also negatived by 4.7 against 26 The House rose at 1.15.