HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3730, 29 June 1883, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thursday, The Houso met at 2.30 p m. MIDDLE ISLAND WEST COAST RAILWAY. Sir George Grey gave notice of an Address to the Governor to provide for the construction of a railway to connect Christchurch with the West Coast. QUESTIONS. Replying to questions, Ministers said funds would not permit at present the establishment of a University College in Wellington; the Government were not prepared to substitute a gun license for tho present shooting license, or make the fees local revenue ; the Government did not intend to remove the proclamation over lands at Rotorua so as to permit the Thames Valley and Rotorua Railway Company to acquire land direct from the natives ; the Government could not incur the expense of having copies of all patent plans and specifications lodged for inspection at all local patent offices ; the sum of £20,000 had been advanced to theDuntroonairlHakateremea railway on tho secuiity of £59,000 worth of the company's debentures and a mortgage over all the property of the company—the company was being wound up, but the colony would not lose : the Government did not intend to withdraw the proclamation under tho Thermal Springs Act over the lands at Rotorua required by tho Thames Valley and Rotorua Railway Company—their intentions were eet out in the published correspondence; the Kohi reserve, near Ormowd,,was a permanent one for timber purposes, and could not be given back to the natives. TENSIONS BILL. Mr Shrimski introduced the Pensions Bill which was read for the first time. AUCKLAND UNIVERSITY REPEAL BILL. Mr Hursthouse moved for leave to introduce a bill to repeal the Auckland University College Bill, but leave was refused on a division of 33 to 2i. OTAOO LAND " DUJOTYISM." A select committee was appointed on the motion of Mr J. MuKenzie to enquire into the Otago " dummyism" cases. COLONIAL REPRESENTATION IN IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. Mr Beetham moved a resolution in, favor of the colonies being represented in the Imperial Parliament. He spoke at considerable length, arguing that if the Empire was to bo kept together representation in the Imperial Parliament rmist be given to the colonies, or federation would take place. He would prefer the latter, biit feared the time was not ripe. If the colonies separated from the Empire altogether China or some other Power might annex us. Mr Joyce opposed the motion as outside tho region of practical politics. Colonel Trimble and Mr W. M. Green supported the proposal. Mr Moss and Mr Fish very strongly opposed the motion as calculated to cause Imperial interference in our local affairs. Major Atkinson thought the question hardly ripe for decision, but it was desirable to begin to consider the large questions of which this formed a part. Great changes were impending, and they should prepare for them. Ho looked to a great federation of all the English speaking races. Mr Montgomery was altogether opposed to federation and to the motion. Mr Kelly also opposed it. The debate was adjourned. CIRCULATION OF BILLS. Mr Cadmau moved that all bills to be introduced inParliameutshould bo circulated for one mqnth before being introduced. Major Atkinson said the idea..v? as impracticable. ' After a few Remarks fvopa Mr Hursthouse

and Mr Shcphard in favor of curtailing excessive legislation, the motion was negatived. TEACHING THADK3 IN GAOLS. The debate was resumed on Mr Hutchinaon's motion against teaching trades in ffjiols. The House divided, and the motion was lost by 45 to 7, Mr Scddon's amendment for certain returns on the subject ot gaol labor being agreed to. The House adjourned at 0.30, and resumed at 7.30. MORAL TRAINING IN SCHOOLS BILL. Mr M. TV. Green moved the second reading of theMorulTraininginSchools Bill. He explained that in committee he would ask to change the title to the Bible Reading in Schools Bill. He contended that public opinion throughout the colony demanded this bill, and that if the reasonable request for Bible reading was refused the national system would break down altogether, and tho country would revert to denominationalism. Mr Rolleston opposed tho bill, and could not agree that twenty minutes a week reading of the Bible without note or comment would constitute either religions or moral training or instruction. He denied that tho State had any duty or responsibility as to religious teaching. Mr fostlcthwaite, Mr Fulton, and Mr Macandrcw warmly supported the bill, the two latter saying that they would rather have the Douiiy version of the Bible rend than have the Bible altogether excluded. Mr Montgomery and Mr Fergus both protested against the bill as uncalled for and likely to seriously injure the national .system. Mr DeLautour objected to all State interference with religion. The State pauperised all it touched. The clergymen were not fit to teach young children. If religion was to be tauglit those who desired it must be prepared to pay for proper teachers. Mr Hursthousc opposed the bill as it stood, but would support it if Bible rending was left to the option of the committees. If that were done, judging from sixteen years experience in Nelson, no one committee in ten would sanction it.

Mr Seddon moved, as an amendment, that the debate be adjourned until Parliament lias expressed its will on the claims of Roman Catholics to aid for their schools. This, he thought, would test the sincerity of those who urged this claim for Bible reading, but who would probably oppose a like concession to the Catholics.

Mr Shephard seconded the amendment, and opposed the bill. Mr Sutton regarded the bill as the thin end of the wedge of denominationalism. 11l Hawke's Bay opinion was almost unanimously against the bill. Mr Bathgatc warmly supported the bill, and avowed his readiness to recognise the claims of the Catholics. He held that the whole basis of mor ility rested on the Bible, and that to proscribe it in our schools was to encourage infidelity and lay the seeds of revolution.

Mr Levestam opposed the bill, and thought a good example would have more force in teaching morality than any Bible

reading - . Mr Munro suggested that a text book of Biblical history might be prepared to meet all denominations.

Mr Daniel and Mr Conolly opposed, and Mr Sutter cupported the bill. Mr Tomoana opposed it, as it would cause trouble and dissention in the schools. as religious differences did in the world. Mr I'vcsa would support the bill if it was made permissive instead of compulsory. Mr Feldwick supported, and Mr Petne and Mr O'Callaglu-.n opposed the bill. Mr Dick supported it, nlthough it was not quite in the form he would like. The question was an open one with the Government. Mr Shrimski opposed the bill. Mr Green, in reply, expressed his willingness to mak' Bible reading optional with the commit f Mr Sec 1 ' motion for the adjournment was pi , ' iost on a division of 51 to 14. M* .Buchanan moved the previous ques. , but this was negatived on the voices, and ths House divided on the second reading of the bill. Ayes, 16. Bathgate Postlethwaite Dick Feldwick Fulton Green, M. W. HuHthouse Ivess Joyce Larnach Lee Macandrow McKenzie, J. Steward Sutter Turnbull Noes, .52. Allwright Buchanan, W. 0. Barron Beetham Bracken Brown, J. C. Brown, J. Bryco JJuchanan, J. Cadman Connolly Daniel DeLantour Duncan Fish Fergus Fitzgerald George Grey Hamliii Harris Hurst Kelly Johnston, 0. J. Leva stain Mcll wraith McMillan Mitchclson Montgomery Morris Moss Munro O'Callaghan Peacock Petrie Rolleston Seddon Shaw Shepherd Shrimski Stevens Sutton Swanson Tawhaio Thompson, J. W. Tole Tomoana Trimble Watt White, W. Whyte, J. B. Wyn-Williams. Pair: Wilson, J. , Green, J: The bill was the House rose at 1.20.