JOTTINGS FROM THE LOBBY

Hokitika Guardian, 28 October 1920, Page 1

JOTTINGS FROM THE LOBBY

NEW EDUCATION BILL. j (Our Parliamentary Correspondent.) ■ WELLINGTON, Oct. 28 j The Education Bill introduced tonight, contains some important amendmeats. Boards are being required to select for appointment or transfer the J candidate wlvo is highest in the grade j list, unless in the opinion of the Board ' and Senior Inspector, some other teach®. is more suitable. Preference is , to be given to teachers who have served j for two years in country districts. The . compulsory school age is being raised | from fourteen to fifteen years, in case of all pupils who have not passed stalldard six, and who are within a reason- j able walking distance of the school, j This provision is to operate from a date j to lie fixed, not earlier than January ; Ist 1922. State scholarships are not to j he held in private or denominational schools. Salaries of teachers in secondary and technical schools are to be provided, with some exceptions, in accordance with the Dominion scale as prescribed by regulation, thus securing uniformity. Many other amendments, are included. HOUSING BILL. The House passed the Housing Bill before rising at about three a.m. Members had much to say.about the Bill hut. no amendment of any importance was made. Sir W. Hemes promised to consider a proposal that owners of houses should be required to notify the Housing Department when houses became vacant, and that the Department should have the right to put in tenants, after fourteen days. The clause allowing landlords seven per cent net on the present capital value was retained by 34 votes to 12.