PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS

Hokitika Guardian, 27 July 1922, Page 4

PARLIAMENTARY JOTTINGS

PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION.

Until the Proportional ' Jlepresenlatiou and Effective 'Voting Bills—Xo. 1 introduced by Mr AV. A. Vcitclx (Wanganui) and No. 2 by Alt' J- AleCombs (Lyttelton)—are now well down on the Order Paper, or, as a nautical map would say, “ hull down on the horizon”; and arc not likely to reach the second reading stage for some time to come.

Air Vcitch contented himself with formally introducing his bill ; hut Air McCombs spoke at some, length on the introduction of ” Xo. 2”; and from the large number of references to the- new electoral system from nil sides of the House on the Address-in-Reply debate, the indications are that the motions for the second' reading of the hills will give rise to no little discussion.

HOSPITAL LEVIES. Dr Thacker (Christchurch East) wishes to ask the Alinistor of T ulilic Health whether ho will amend the Health Act re levies on contributing local authorities for hospital maintenance in accordance with a resolution of the Taieri County Coum il and adopted by the Christchurch City Council at its last meeting on Monday, July 17th, 1922? The resolution referred to reads as follows:—“ That this council expresses its strong dissatisfaction with the incidence of taxation in regard to the maintenance of hospitals in the Dominion, the present system of a levy over an hospital district on the rateable value is inequitable: which, along with the ever-increasing amount required year by year for such maintenance unduly taxes the holders of rural properties, and resolves that the Government be urged to make the cost of these institutions a charge on the Consolidated Fund.”

“ A ” CERTIFICATES. Air T. TC. Si (ley (Dunedin South) has given notice to ask the Afiuistcr for Education whether ho will reconsider with a view to its repeal, the rc.g: 1 tion making honours in the subject of education a pre-requisite tor the teachers’ “A” certificate? The opinion, states the lion, member, has been expressed by persons entitled to spi nk with authority on the subject that the above regulation will tend to narrow t lie viewpoint and cultural nllriuincnts of the teaching profession, and that the efficiency of the teachers as educators can be amply secured by the pass required in education together with the practical course at the training <■ Pego.