PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2622, 13 July 1871, Page 2

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Yesterday. The Land Bill passed through committee, some slight alterations being made. The Roads Boards Bill and the Southland Sheep Ordinance Repeal Ordinance were read a third time and passed. On the payment of Members Bill being taken into committee, Mr J. 0. Brown succeeded on a division in carrying, by 17 to 11, an amendment to Clause 11. The Bill as now adopted makes provision for the payment to aU members not resident in the City of 20s per day, with the usual travelling expenses ; and to City members of IQs a day ; one day’s allowance to be deducted for every day pf no?} attend; ance. There was a warm and lengthy discussion on Mr M'Glashan’s motion for an address to the Superintendent, requesting that LB6l 5s should be placed on the supplementary estimates, with a view of meeting the expenses of the Police Department as originally .placed on the estimates. It was argued by the mover of the motion aiid by Mr Barton, that to reduce, the rate of pay would necessarily lead to their efficiency being impaired. Messrs Duncan, Gillies, and Turnbull also objected to any further reductions pf the pay. The reduction was defended fey the Provincial Secretary qu the ground of the necessity for retrenchment iu all departments ; and he urged that if the iuotiou was carried, in justice, the salaries of officers of other departments, goals, &c., should also be increased. He denied that the reduction had been made on the suggestion of the head of the department; the action was entirely that of the Government. Mr Bathgate, opposed the motion, because of the opinion expressed by the CounciLm favor of retrenchment, and because of the throat made by the police to resign if a further reduction took place. Dr Webster also opposed the motion on the last-mcu-tioned ground, After further' further discussion, the motion was negatived by 19, to 11. This Day. To-day Mr E. B. Cargill brought up the report of the select committee on the petitions of the Reman Catholic inhabitants of the Province- The report stated that the committee had examined’ th■; strict terms of the Education Ordinance iu reference to- religious instruction in schools, and had put live questions to the teachers of schools, asking—J. If the Scriptures were read daily at the opening of the school? 2, Was reli gious instruction beyond reading the Scriptures given in the school ? If so, of what nature and at what time ? 8. Did the children know ’ they . were not obliged to attend such instruction if the parents objected. 4th. What books were used exclusive of geography and mathematics. slh, Did the schoolmaster consider himself under denominational control. Replies had been received.as well from the schoolmasters as from the Roman Cathodic Bishop, who also gave oral evidence. The committee considered no mere moditica tion of the plan of education would meet the objections made. The explanations by the Bishop showed that the Catholics would not he Satisfied with any system of education not under their exclusive control the prayer of the petition was for support to Roman Catholic schools outside of, and altogether apart from, jhg existing educational system ; and that, not only to district schools, but to grammar and high schools. The objections raised were—lst, to the appointment of schoolmasters; 2nd, to the school books ; and 3rd, to reading the Scriptures and religious instruction. With reference to the first, the inspector oi schools stated tiiat the utmost care was taken to avoid reference to denominational tendencies in making appointments, and no control or influence had been exercised by the Education Board. The existing staff of teachers were • of various denomination?. 2nd. That the passage? in ■ the

books objected to were those accepted as historical by other denominations. There were in some of the books objectionable passages, 4th'ough it would be difficult to find bookspossessing literary merits superior or equal to those of the Scottish School Book Association’s generally in use. As to the religious instruction, inquiry showed that 1 the 40th clause of the Education Ordinance was fairly complied with. In only 4 out of 30 schools, from which replies had come in were 'be Scripture’s read at any other time than in opening the school, but in several catechisms were taught. The Committee consider that the schools as a rule were conducted so as to maintain a national and note, denominational character. They recomrnefid that schoolmasters throughout the Province should be enjoined to adhere strictly to the terms of the Ordinance in regard to reading the Scriptures and religious instruction—to take care that both friends and children should be informed that attendance at sueh reading and instruc- ■ tiou is optional, and avoid the use of lessons containing objectionable expressions offensive to Roman Catholics or o her denominations of Christians. The committee were unable tp recommend compliance with the prayer of the petitioners to grant sepaiate " support to Catholic denominational sch ols, as it would increase the cost of educat on, decrease the efficiency of the schools, lead to a denominational system, and subverse a system which- had. Hitherto given satisfaction. and beuefitted the country at large. Mr Haughton appended a protest to the report, on the ground—lst. That,the evidence proved that religious instruction was given beyond the mere reading and explanation of the Scriptures, and that ip many cases the, “Shorter Catechism” was taught in some schools. 2nd. That it had been distinctly J troved to the committee that Roman Cathoics cannot avail themselves of the existing system of education for reasons set forth in the evidence, and specially in that of the Right Rev. Bishop Moran. The 2> ,; sition then was, that the Roman Catholics, who form one • tenth of the population, and consequently contribute one-tenth part of the money expended upon public education receive no be efit whatever therefrom, and are thrown upon their own resources to maintain their schools. The decision arrived at by the committee is, therefore, not in accordance with the justice of the case. In reply to Mr Turnbull’s question, whether a provisiop had i iecii made for the enlargement of the Middle is’.rict School, the Provincial Treasurer pleaded poverty, and showed that it nad been necessary to cut down the provision for school buildings one-half. The most important business, however* was the passing of resolutions moved by the Provincial Secretary, expressing the opinion that LIOO.OOO of the proposed loan should be made available for draining agricultural lands, to be advanced on loan to person? effecting improvements. The real point of the resolutions seemed lost sight of by the Council, who treated it as if it were an addition to the loan for water supply to the goldfields instead of an abstraction from it. The resolutions passed without opposition. A discussion took place on Mr Haughtou’a motion, recommending certain races in the goldfields. (Left sitting.)