EXEMPTION OF TEACHERS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 30, 30 October 1917, Page 6

EXEMPTION OF TEACHERS

THE FIRST STAGE COUNCIL'S AMENDMENT DIS- ' .AGREED WITH. "SIB JAMBS ALLEN (Minister of Defence) moved thai the amendments maxle by the Legislative Council in the Expeditionary Forces Bill be disagreed with. Mr. E. P. LEE (Qamarn) said that he wished to say a word or two in explanation of • his vote. When the Bill was brought down by the Government it exempted 'clergy o£ certain denominations mentioned in the schedule of the Bill, but the House on consideration adopted a wider interpretation, and on the voices the clause as amended was .carried. At that stage the Minister of Finance gave notice of an amendment under which the teachers in the State schools and private schools of the Dominion were to be exempted from military- service. The amendment was presented as an addition to the clause providing for the exemption of the clergy. He and other members were therefore in the position of having to vote for the adoption. of the wholeclause ' providing for the exemption of clergy and also the exemption of all teachers, or to vote for the rejection of the clause. He voted against the clause because he did not see his way to exempt the tcachers of State s£nd private schools from military service. .He wished that in the Upper House the two questions had been separated, and that the exemption of clergy had been approved of, and the exemption of tcachers disapproved of. If that had been the amendment made by the Council he would have supported it, but as things were he would support the Minister's motion to disagree with the amendments made by the Upper House. So' far as teachers were concerned." he approved of the amendment made by tho Usper House. Mt. W. H. FIELD (Otaki) said he agreed that it would have been wise to separate the twc> questions, He had voted for the amendment moved by the Minister of»Finance, not because he wanted to exempt all teachers, but only those whose places could not bo filled. He thought Parliament would have done wisely to exempt fijom service all teachers who could not/ be replaced. If that had been done it would have been satisfactory to everybody. He hoped that'soma such midway course would be devised. Tlmt would be satisfactory to the House and to the country generally. The motion was agreed to, 'and the ■Right Hon. W. F. Massey, Sir; Joseph Ward, Sir James Allen, and; Sir John Findlay were appointed managers to draw up reasons f or submission to the Council for disagreeing. The reason, announced later, was: "That Hie amendment is not in tho best interests of the country."

THE LATE HON. W. BEEHAN. ' . The PRIME MINISTER (Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey) moved that the House should place "oil record its high sense of the faithful services rendered to New Zealand by the late Hon. W. Beehan, M.L.C., and its sympathy with the bereaved family. Mr. Massey said tluit Mr. Beehan had been a memberof the Legislative Conncil, a good Citizen, and a faithful friend. He had two sons -fighting at tlio front. SIR JOSEPH WARD supported the motion. He mentioned Mr; Beehan's special knowledge of the work of the friendly societies. In a quiet, unassuming way, Mr. Beehan had done much to" promote the interests of New Zealand and assist his fellow-members. The motion was supported bv Mr, 'SV. T. Jennings (Taumarunni), 'Sir John Tiudlay (Hawke's Bay), the A. M. -T. S.Dickson (Pariie'!), Mr. A. K Glover (Auckland Central), Sir James Allen (Minister of Defence), nnd Mr. J_. Payne (Grey Lynn), and was carried unanimously. The Second Stage. When the Houso met at 7.30 p.m. a message was received from the Legislative Council to say that the Council insisted upon its amendments on the Bill for the following reason assigned: "lie Couucil considers that no clnssra or special exemption should be defined. SIR JAMES ALLEN then moved that the reasons assigned by the Legislative Council be disagreed with. This motion was carried, and Sir J allies Allen moved that a conference be asked for with the Legislative Council, and that the managers for • tho House lie tho Rt. Hon. \\. F. Mas- [ soy, Sir Joseph : Ward, Sir James Allen, j and Sir John Findlay. ' At 7.34 p.is. the House adjourned until I tho ringing of the bell. The House ns- | scmblcd at 7.52 p.m., but only to receive I the report from tho Council that a coni ferenee to sit at 8 p.m. had been agreed to. , . The House adjourned again at t,55 until the ringing of the bell. No Agreement. At 9.35 p.m. Hie House reassombled, the conference having concluded. The report of the managers was that thev had been unable to agree. Sir James Allen then moved that a further conference be asked for with the other Chamber, and thnt the managers for this second conference be the Hon. W. H. Herries, the Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald, Mr. l T. M. Wilford, and the mover. This motion was agreed to. Tho. Houso. rose at 9.38 until 11 a.m. today.