HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 44, 15 November 1907, Page 7

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

SEA' FISHERIES BILL.. When' tho Hbus^inet' ; 'yEsforday afternoon tho Hon. J. A. nnjyed the amendments 7 effected''* to "the r Sea r 'Fisfiencs Bill in tho Legislative Council bo agreed to, The most important of the amendments was tho deleting, of the words, " wholesalo or retail " in the. clause conferring powor on tho Ministor to sell'oysters.'

The amendments wero agreed to.

STAMPING MACHINE. Tho Post Office Act Amendment Bill was read a third tinie. The Bill gives authority to use- a stamping machino. ' EXCHANGE OF LAND. Tho-" Rangitatau Block Exchange Bill, which oonfers authority on the Minister to exchange, certain Crown lands with Taranaki Natives, •_ and thus overcome a longstanding griovanco, was read a sccond time, on tho motion of the Hon. 11. M'Nab. TAIERI LAND DRAINAGE BILL. The second reading of tho Taieri Land Drainage Bill was moved by the Hon. K. M'Nab. The Bill gives power to make better provision for the drainago of certain lands in Otago by sotting up one board in place of several. Messrs. Dillon - and Lethbridgo congratulated the Minister on tho introduction of the Bill. The former regretted, however, tnat similar legislation had not been, passed'for Hawko's Bay in accordance with a previous Ministerial promise. Mr. Lothbriclge said ho also would like a Bill on the same lines to enable the Oroua River lands to bo protected against erosion. Under tho present legislation it was difficult to sot up "one board, and" a multiplicity of boards administered ineffectually.

The Minister, replying, said that tho various local bodies in Hawko's Bay had not been agreeable to the constitution of a single board which would supersede them; There was power already under the Land Drainago Act, 1904, Clause 15, to do this if thoy had been agreeable. They were not unanimous, however.

Mr. Dillon: "Wo want a Bill to compel them to be." (Laughter.) The Bill was read a second time. 1 TROUT FISHINC. Fisheries Conservation Act Amendment Bill, which gives the Governor power to extend the fishing season at Kotorjia to May 31 from April 30, was read a second time. COLLECE ENDOWMENT. Tho Canterbury College Endowment Bill was road a second time. EDUCATION ACT AMENDMENT. Tho l Hon. G. Fowlds moved the second reading of tho Education Act Amendmont Bill. The Minister said this was practically tho same Bill as introduced last year, but thrown out for want of time. One or two now phases, however, wero included. Scholarships wero put on a sound footing and anomalies that had cropped up from time to time woro removed. For instance, when the Victoria College Act was passed in 1895, provision was made for certain junior and senior Queen Scholarships, which wero to bo paid for out of tho funds of tho college. This was found to be too great a tax on the funds, and last year tho scholarships wore attached to tho Consolidated Fund. This left no reason for the scholarships being restricted and tho Bill proposed to placo them on the basis of National Scholarships. Section 2 of tho Bill made it clear that high schools wero public schools. It was proposed that the scholarship basis should be one for overv 4000 instead of 5000 scholars. The eligible ago for junior scholarships was raised from 13 to 14, and the subjects for examination from those of tho fifth to the sixth standard. Tho number of National scholarships had been raised from 16 to 20, and anomalies in connection with examinations thereon removed.

improve the Safaries. Mr. Malcolm, in congvntn\ating the Minister on introducing the Bill, urged him to improve the position o[ toachors, and thereby do mora for- education in the Dominion than that which any such measure as the present would effect. Mr. Poland supported these remarks, and pointed out that uncertificated teachcrs under this• Bill would bo unfairly dealt with. Ho comparod the remuneration o£ teachers with

that of less important civil servants, and said the difference made one blush in tho contemplation. Mr. '1\ Mackenzie contended that country schools should he allowed a full two years' tent, and placed more on a level with town schools. He pointed out that children winning proficiency certificates in tho primary schools should bo allowed a full two years socohdary education without existing restrictions. He spoke in favour of tho payment of teachers on a different basis to that of attendance. They had boon led to beliove that tho Minister, when ho took office, would strike out vigorously in the interests of education, and the "teacher question" was tho most important aspect. Mr, Mander said a bullock driver and a bush cook received higher wages than some country teachers. Hon. Member: A self-respecting Chinaman would not work for the wages. Mr. Latirenson recalled tlio great amount that had been done for tho teachers and education in tho past few years, and balanced that against what was needful in tho future.

Special Praise. Mr. Horries paid the highest tribute possible to teachers who'had sacrificed the home comforts and tho advantages of civilised life to go out and educate the Maoris. Every encouragement should bo given to those "pioneers of civilisation." For this work, 110 also urged, men of tact and character should be selected. Mr. Baumo hoped that the Minister would apply himself diligently (with the assistance of tho Inspector-General when he returned to the Dominion) in removing objectionable aspects of the salaries question. Messrs. Barber and Hanan also spoke. The former drew attention to the special regulations which 'required amending in the interests of many teaohers. The Minister's Reply. The Minister, replying, said he proposed to go into, the Marions schemos proposed in regard to teachers' salaries, and no noped to bring down new proposals next year. The School Journal. The Minister proceeded to refer to unfavourable criticisms of tho School Journal. Tlio Department wolcomcd criticism, and hoped it would lead to improvements. Ho admitted some of the remarks wore justifiable, though the Department had to proceed cautiously. As to illustrations, ho admitted the journal could be much improved in that way, and tho matter had only boon hold over until tho Inspcctor-Gcneral returned. He hold in his hand a copy of the Queensland School Journal, and a romarkablo fact was that in that paper every articlo except ono was taken from tho Now Zealand 'Journal.

Hon. Member: "It doesn't say much' for the Queensland journal I" Tho Minister: It shows that the. educational valuo'of the journal is recognised. He had also, received letters from teachers all over the iDominion testifying to the benefits of the journal. Tho Bill was read a second time. PUBLIC HEALTH BILL. The Hon. G. Fowlds moved tho second roading of the Public Health Act Amendment Bill'. Mr. Massey remarked that this was tho second Bill introduced this week enabling hospital boards to throw burdens upon local bodies. Local bodies were alroady too hoavily taxed, and very soon something would have to bo done in their behalf. Mr. Massey proceeded to remark that the Minister for Health had said in an Auckland paper that ho (Mr. Massey) had attacked tho Waikato Sanatorium.

Mr. Fowlds: "Did I say attack?" Mr. Massey emphatically denied that he had attacked the institution. Ho had blamed the Minister for not submitting an adverso report on tho sanatorium.

Later, Mr. Fowlds saifl he was sorry if lie had misrepresented the Leader of tho Opposition; perhaps the word "attack " had been itlio wrong ono to use,-but ho had construed Mr. Massey's'statemonts on that occasion into an adverso criticism of tho sanatorium. The Bilji was read a second time. IN COMMITTEE, v The Rangitatau Block Exchange Bill was put through committee without amendment. Drainage Boards. ' The Taieri Land Drainage Bill was next taken. . ■ Mv. Ell failed to carry an amendment introducing the. principle of one ratepayer ono vote. A' new clauso directing the Board to classify the land according to tho Land Drainage Act, 1904, was added, on tIM motion of the Minister. The Bill was then reported.

Scholarships; , In committee on tho Education Act Amendment Bill, Mr. Symes moved to insert a now clause to limit tho Taranaki Scholarships (under the Act of 1905) to; candidates who have resided and attended a school within tho district for not less than two years. Carried on the voices. The Bill was roported without further amendment. Other Bills. The Canterbury College Endowment Bill and the Fisheries .Conservation Act were reported without amendment. Mr.' Witty moved tho following new clause to the Public Health Act Amendment Bill —" (1) It shall not bo lawful to remove from tho district, under the jurisdiction of any local authority any building, on part of a building, or any materials of which any building was composed, and re-orect this same or use the same in tho erection of any building within any other district without the consent of the local authority of such last-mentioned district. (2) Every person who commits a breach of this section is liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds, and the building or part. thereof erected contrary to the provisions hereof shall be deemed to be an insanitary bunding, and may be dealt with under section 11 of the Public Health Amendment Act, IUO3, without tho necessity for the certificate of the District Health Officer as therein Wnticned. —Carried.

The Bill was then reported. The Post and Telegraph Classification Bill, the Otago Presbyterian Church Board of. Property Act A'meridmeut Bill, the Statutos Repeal Bill, wero cacli reported without amendment. Minister for Finance. In the Parliamentary and Executivo Titles Bill Mr. Herries asked if it was necessary to alter the namo of Colonial Treasurer to Minister for Finance. The term had a high sound for a democratic country. He suggested "Dominion Treasurer." The House had got accustomed to the namo of "treasurer. The Premior said tho alteration became necessary in consequence of the change of the title of the country. 'J'o test the feeling of the House Mr. Fisher moved that tho title be altered to "Dominion Treasurer." —Lost on the voices. Mr. Herries did not think the designation M.H.R. should be altered to M.P. The old M.H.R. had a time-honoured sound and lie would be sorry to have it changed. The public would think this was the first step towards raising tho honorarium of members. The next step would be another "£4O steal." (Protests and laughter). He called for a division on tho clause which resulted in the retention of M.P. by 42 to 19. The Bill was reported without amendment.

Infant Life Protection. ! In committee on the Infant Life Protection Hill Mr. Baumo raised tho contention that the Minister was not the proper person,' as proposed, to say whether an individual should adopt, a child. The power should rest, as heretofore, with the Magistrate. The Minister said tho reason for the Bill was largely the feeling that ;had grown up in the country that the police and magistrates were not the proper officials to say whether a home was a lit place or not for n child. He contended the Kducation Department in its personnel wfis better equipped for this work. 1 Clause 10, which imposes on the occupier of any house' in which a child is horn the duty of notifying tho birtn within fort.voight hours if in a town or sevon days ir in the country was amended by extending the

period to seventy-two hours in a town and twenty-one days in the country. Tho Minister moved tho inclusion of tho following now sub-clause:—"Tho Registrar shall keep a register of the births of which notice is so given, hut such register shall bo open for inspection by such persons only as arc authorised by tho Minister."

The sub-clause was carried after much discussion by 30 to 20. A new sub-clauso was then moved by the Minister to give the secretary of the Education Dopartmont the powors of guardians in the cases where money was paid for maintenance of children. . . Tho sub-clause was adopted. The Bill was then reported from committee. Public Service Classification. Tho Premier in committee on the Public Services Classification Bill moved to dcleto Clause 8 -and substitute therefor "such classification shall have no elfect unless tho House of Representatives passes a resolution approving the classification and fixes a day on which it shall come into effect." — Adopted. In Clause 14, prescribing tho amount of travelling allowances for officors, that of officers whoso salaries wero not less than £500 was fixed at 20s. per day (instead of 155.), and of officors paid not loss than £300, 15s. a day (instead of 12s. 6d.). All other officers aro to receive 12s. 6d. a day. A new subclause was added that the torms of this clauso did not apply to private secretaries of Ministers of the Crown. Tho following officors were added to tho first schedule; — Judges of tho Nativo Land Conrt, District Court Judges, Stipendiary Magistrates, Registrars of Friendly Societies, tho Colonial Analyst. Chief Inspector of Machinery, and tho Chief Law Draftsman. Tho Bill was then roportod. FINAL STACES. I The Bills that had passed their second reading as nbovo wero, put through thoir final stages, with tho oxcoption of tho Rangitatau Block Exchange Bill. Tho Beer Duty Act Amendment Bill was also read ft third time and passed. NEW BILL.

The Railways Authorisation Bill, to provide for tho construction of certain ■minor additions to existing lines, was introduced by Governor's Message, and read a first time. Tho Houso roso at 2 a.m.