THE COUNCIL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1514, 9 August 1912, Page 6

THE COUNCIL.

GOVERNMENT RENTS. '■■ The Legislative Council met at 2.30 ves:.:j wrda,y afternoon. \ ■■;. The. Hon. J. T. PAUL moved that thero ••': bo laid on the table a return showing .;'i the total amount paid by the Government p to private individuals for rent, of c/nees U in tho following centres during tiie vear £ :nded March 31, 1!M2:-Invercai : gill, Dimeii din, Timaru, Christchnrch. Kelson. Wei- • lington, Palniei-ston North, Napier, Wanganui, and Auckland. Tho return to show the number of offices in each of Iho places mentioned above, liie a umber of offices under separate .ro-jts, the location and purpose of ;ame, and the annua! rent paid. The mover 'said he did not wish to inquire into inyoiio's piii-a's business, but hi- thought the public should be enabled to understand just how satisfactory ; this policy of renting public offices was. He questioned whether the Government itself was aware of tho total rents paid to private individuals, as the matters were in the hands of Departments. He moved for a similar return during the time of the Ward Administration, but the request had been refused, and had given rise lo 6omc caustic, comment in. I he'press. The motion was carried. ! THE COUNCIL'S CONSTITUTION. The Hon. H. D. BELL (Leader of the Coujicil) introduced a Hill to alter (ho constitution of the Legislative Council. The Bill, said Mr. Bell, would bo in the hands'" of mombers that day. A small technical amendment had involvad the reiirinting of the Bill/or it would have been in thin pigeon-holes when the Council met. 'I'he Bill was read a first tim V.'

THE EDUCATION SYSTEM. The Hon. It. A. LOUGHNAN continued the debate upon tho question that it is desirable that a committee lio set ip by tho Council to consider tho report of the i Education' Commission, and any matters relating to education, such committee to sit and confer with any similar committee- from tho Bouse of representatives. The Hon. GEOTtGE JONES thought. ■ they wer* indebted to the Education O'ommi&sion for the report it Las pre-

sonted. Some people thought tho education system should not bo tampered with, for fear of spoiling it. _ He, however, thought tho time had arrived lor reviewing the education system with a -new to improving it if possible. By appointing a council and boards as 'the commission suggested, he thought wo would be further complicating the system. He had re thing but admiration for the remarks of tho commission on, physical exercise. This exercise had the effect of transforming weeds into strong, healthy youths. He agreed that it .would bo wise to appoint special •instructors in singing. It had been pathetic to hear the miserable attempts made by some poor children to produce musical sounds after they had been instructed by inefficient teachers. Tho proposal that boys should. ltavo to put in two years at secondary • schools was a good one. He would suggest that the two years should bo paid for, and if the two years' course was completed the money should be refunded. The Hon. J. E.,JENKIN T SON T , in reply, thought a committee from the Council would be able to benefit the education system. The motion was carried. DEPUTY-GOVERNOR'S POWERS. The Hon. H.D. BELL, in. moving tho second reading of the Deputy-Governor's Powers Bill, which provides that tho Governor's statutory, as well as other powers, be exercisable by a deputy, remarked that the Bill was a purely technical one; ■■■■>■ ' Tho second reading was agreed to. . Tho Leader of the Council said ho v.culd move, when tho Bill was called on for committal, ■ that it be referred to the Statutes Revision Committee..'/ \y

' -;' UNIVERSITY-AMENDMENT/ . The ; Hori. H.-D. BELL;m.oved the second reading ■ of tho -New .. Zealand ■ University Amendment 8i11.... Tho ".Bill, which: has. been"approved', by,the Senates,, provides that-in addition to the powers conferred oh it by, the : principal Act, the Senate shall have power to confer a diploma in Public Health. The Hon. J. E. JENKINSON asked for an assurance' that the proposed step was not going to cheapen or lessen tho value of the medical diploma. The Senate was to.be given full power to grant these diplomas. The Hon. J. B. CALLAN said that under the Bill a young man could go up for examination without medical qualification, and sit for this diploma in public health. The'Bill did'not prevent this, although it appeared that it was meant to do so.

The Hon/J. B. CALLAN said that under the Bill a young man could go up for examination without medical qualification, and sit for this diploma in public health. The'Bill did'not prevent this, although it appeared that it was meant to do so. Tho Hon; H. D. BELL, in reply, said tho University had power by statute to grant certain degrees, and tho duty of defining the period to bo served, and tho examinations to bo passed. Necessarily the Bill did not set out what tho qualifications should be. A candidate for a diploma need not necessarily hold a medical diploma. The Bill provideda method by which the Senato of the ilniversity shall be able to stamp on a'person that he is one. duly qualified in public health. Tho second reading was agreed to. The Council rose at i p.m. until August 21.