PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS

Hokitika Guardian, 11 July 1922, Page 4

PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS

JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS

An interesting statement regarding an experiment in secondary education, was made by the Minister of Education in reply to a question from Air Sidey, who suggested that there was some uneasiness among those associated with junior high schools regarding the plans of the Department. The Hon. C. J. Parr said that it was intended to make a trial of a new type of school for instruction of children between the ages of twelve and fifteen in one, possibly two, schools. Nearly every country except New Zealand had intermediate schools which collected children at the age of twelve having a fourth standard education, offering them a differential course, something more than a mere classical course. Commercial education ami agriculture would be catered for among other things. This would meet the requirements of children 40 per cent of whom never readied the sixth standard stage of efficiency. Country children wlui never had an opportunity of securing secondary education could benefit by t>is system. a s it would he possible to establish consolidated schools to which they could he taken by motor transport. WOMEN JUSTICES. The Minister of Justice was absent from the Chamber earlier in the week, when the advisability of extending women’s sphere to enable them to hold the position of justice of the peace was advocated by all sides of the House, hut when the matter was brought under his notice by Mr APConihs lie plainly showed that if was not liis intention of recommending to the G«veninicnt that any amendment should he made in the Act. He replied that there was a large file on the question, and the leason given from time to time was that in tin; opinion of the

Crown Law Office, the term “any person" in the A'd diil not-include "omen. Mr Wilfonl: That Act is forty years old.

Hon. E. P. l/'c: I do not feel disposed to alter the Act. Mr Sullivan: It is a very simple thing.

Mr Loo: Yes, it only means altering one line, but it is not the present intention of the Government to alter if. STANDARD OF GAS. Towards the end of last session the Minister of Internal Affairs stated that there was a Rill on the stocks dealing with the fixing of the calorific standard of gas, Imt owing lo pressure of legislation it did not come before the House. It now appears from a statement made by the Hon. W. Downie Slow-art tli.it the Hill will not- be forthcoming, hut instead (he matter will li,- Iff in the hands of the Hoard of Trade to deal with. Mr Stew art stated that he. had intended to brjng down a Bill last year, but lie now thought Hull il the Roald ol Trade had sntficient powers to deal with it the matter would he best left in ils hands. If so legislation would not, lie necessary, lie promised to let Mr Parry, who persistently questioned him on the subject. know the position in a few day: STATE FINANCING. Il was suggested to the Minister of l-'inaliee by Mr Masters that if the State Advances Office couhl increase the maximum a Ivanrc to small local bodies fiom £SOOO to £IO.OOO it would he conferring a great benefit on them, pin iieulai iv to back-block districts. Air Massey replied that lie was afraid there was not much likelihood of the •suggestion living cariiod out so far as the State Advance Department was concerned, but lie said that there were a number of oilier lending departments which he had reason to ficlicvo bad money ill hand.

.Members: lint not at the same rati of interest.

Mr Massey added that there was much more hope of success in applying to these depart incuts than hy applying to the State Advances Office. TELEPHONE CHARGES.

Further information about the Hi ron felled increase in telephone charges was secured from the Post-master-General to-day, as the result of a question hy Mr Forbes, who asked whether the zone system of charges would he introduced. Ho was particnli'fl.v concerned about the effect on eounlrv districts.

The If on. J. (;. Coates replied that complete reports lunl heen prepared on the subject of the. best system of making telephone charges, and lliey wore ready for Cabinet's consideration. After this had been done lie would make a public announcement, of the revisions which, lie hoped, would be fair in application .and which would give a measure of relief to some users of telephones, while in other cases the charge would he fairer Hum at present.