PARLIAMENTARY

Hokitika Guardian, 6 May 1932, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY

FINANCE RILL NO CONFIDENCE MOTION. (By Teleyiuph— Per Press Association > WELLINGTON May 6. In the Legi-la'.icc Coimci. yvi.coraay, the T‘acie Agreement (Canada-...e,v a0.,uma) Katitiuuiun Bill and Land Laws Amendment Bui were passed without amendment. In ihe House of Representatives lion.. W. Dowhie Stewart moved the second re. ding of the Finance Bid. • Ihe Leader ol the Opposition moved that in view of the proposals in the Bill t<j extend the life of Parliament, | to penalise children in public schools, and to impose penalties on public servants, in addition to other features of “ire Bill, the application of which would impose heavy disabilities on both institutions and persons, this House has no confidence in the Government. The debate was proceeding when the telegraph office closed at 2 a.m.

ALL NIGHT SITTING. WELLINGTON, May 6. The debate on the second rending of the Finance Bill was continued throughon';. an all nigtli-sitting of the House of Representatives, and was still in progress 'When the House adjourned at 7.30 a.m. for breakfast. A strong attack on a clause of the Bid was made by a Coalition member when Mr Stall worthy protested vigorously against the proposal to raise the permissive age for admission to schools, from live to six years. He said experience bad -shown that when the permissive age of entry was live years, the actual age of entry was live and a half, because children’s birthdays did not always occur fit the beginning of a. year. If the permissive age were increased to six i; would mean that the average cihif’d would not commence primary education until six and a hall years of age and this would be a substantial handicap. He would not have it on his conscience to be a party to the keeping of children out of public schools at a time when mothers were at their wits’ end to know what to do with them. He was of the opinion that there were still means of saving many thousands in administration costs throughout the Government Departments and ho urged that steps should be taken in this direction, rather than to reduce the age for admission to schools. Be trusted if the Prime Minister were determined to reduce the age'of admission that he would rectify the position to some extent by making increased grants to free kindergartens.