PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS

Hokitika Guardian, 29 October 1921, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS

SI'KCIAI. TO GUARDIAN. THE TOTE ISSUE. WELLINGTON, Oct. 28. The Prime Minister stated definitely j to-day that the towlisator issue would come before the House on Wednesday next. It was important, he said, that all members should bo present. Vsked in what form the issue would be" presented. Mr -Massey said members would have fin opportunity lor a ' Straight out vote. Nothing else had ! ever been intended. That opportunity ! was given in his Bill. This rather i cryptic utterance leaves the position | doubtful. Many memliers consider 1 that the Bill dues not present the dit- ' ect issue ns far as the adoption or re- ; joctien of the report is concerned. 1 RETIRING more officers. I Some references to retrenchment were made in the House. The I’ost-master-Geuci-al stated that lie was rc--1 tiring another batch of officers, ft was ! necessary that the stall of the Depott-n-ent should ho reduced. FORESTRY .SCHOOL. Mr Massey was asked where he would place the Forestry School and ho replied: lam out to save every shilling and that, will be the ease for quite n long time. I am going to keep our national expenditure within our income. or else 1 am going to make room for another man. SALUTE THE FLAG. The Minister for Education told the House that eleven children in a Wellington suburban school had refused to take part in the ceremony of saluting the ling. A similar ease had occurred in Otago, lie was deciding oil the course of aefion. His department had advised the Otago School Committee that it would be within its [lowers in refusing admission to children who would not salute the flag. He realised that the children were acting on instructions from their parents. The flag was saluted daily in sunn* other countries including Victoria and: United States. It was required to he saluted otti-e weekly in New Zealand. “There is no reason why wo should piny with this sort of thing in this count rv,” said lion Parr. DiSLOYALTY DISCUSSION.

The second reading of the Education Amendment Bill was moved in the House bv lion Parr. The Minister had a good deal to sav about disloyalty, and be was constantly interrupted from the Labour benches. “There is creeping into the teaching profession a spirit of Bolshevism, that needs to he suppressed,” lie said. Most of our teachers are loyal but some are not. He explained that it was for tins reason that lie was asking that all teachers should bo required to take the oath ol allegiance. An amendment of the University Act would la- brought down .to deal willi cases of professors. Complaints regarding two teachers were being investigated at the present tjme. One of those, whose removal was listed for l>v parents on the ground of tier disloyally and anti-British utterances was a fellow student of a woman recently convicted in Wellington for circulating sedit ions literature. LA 808 INTER.) PATTONS. Labour interjections indicated flint Mr Midland’s supporters disapproved of those enquiries. Mr Fraser had something to say about independent thought. Interruption from the Labor bench became so frequent that the Speaker threatened to name the members who were preventing the Minister from proceeding with his speech. A PLEDGE REQUIRED. Air Parr said that an affirmation could he taken l>v teachers who objected to the oath, hut there must lie a. pledge uf loyalty in every ease. Loyal teachers would not object. If there were others, the country ought to know about them. INEFFICIENT SCHOOLS. The Minisor explained that his proposa! regarding private .schools would have the olfeet of wiping out schools that were not efficient. He thought that all tin- denominational schools were registered already. Inefficient schools would not lie registered. A member asked what was the exact position of children attending an unregistered school. The Minister replied that if this legislation is passed, their position would he affected, and attendance at unregistered schools may not be deemed to he attendance atschool. “1 thing that would ho the ease.”