HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1910, 4 August 1888, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

AFTERNOON SITTING.

The House met at 2.30 p.m.

XBTIUATES.

The House eat till 330 a.m. yesterday morning considering the estimates, and ■pant the whole of last evening In the aame work. The only reduction made, ao far, affeota the officers of the Stella, the wote being reduoed by £150. QUESTIONS. Replying to questions lt was stated that the ereotlon of a rabbit-proof fence on Mr Millar's run In the Waitaki distriot had been authorised by the Minister of Lands •t a coat of £€50 ; that the reason why a promise was made In May last that grain - should be charged by aotual weight on the railways was In order tbat farmers might be made acquainted with the propoaed ohange before next aesslon ; thai copies of "Tbe Manual of Grasses and Plants useful to New Zealand " would be aent to oountry libraries and institutes; that no funds were available for completing the Wellington and Woodvllle KN-way to Newm n and Pahlatna,

OOV-tRNMENT BUBINI6B. > The Premier moved that the House at Its rising adjourn till Monday at halfpast two o'<3Viok for Government business. The motion -was agreed to. MOTION FOR BUPP£Y.

On the motion thav the Houao go into Committee of Supply, Mr Tanner moved •a an amendment that la the financial condition of the oolony lt la desirable to alter tha Edneation Aot by rMalng the school age to seven years. If the amendment were oarrled he did not propose tbat It ahould take effect at onoe, but that due notice ahould be given to teachers oi tbe proposed change. He spoke on the question at some length, and quoted from figures to prove that if his proposal to withdraw 20,000 ohildren of seven years and under from the pnblio schools were «greed to, it would result In a Having to tho oolony of not less than £30,000, while only £9000 would bo saved by the withdrawal of ohildren of si* and under that •ge. The question was discussed and the Amendment lost on a division by 64 to 10.