CLOSE DIVISION

Hokitika Guardian, 20 October 1932, Page 5

CLOSE DIVISION

;IS ANTICIPATED ON RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION BILL (Per Press Association — Copyright.) WELLINGTON, October 20. In the Legislative Council, yesterday the debate on the second reading of the Religious Instruction in Schools Enabling Bill was continued, and again adjourned. There is every prospect of one of the closest divisions of the Legislative Council, in recent years when the Religious Instruction in Schools Enabling Bill is put to the vote. There are at present 24 members of the Ooutncil and, according to a reliable estimate, made on the stated opinions of councillors, the voting on the Bill may be 12 for and 12 against. In thi s case the division would be decided on the casting vote of Mr Speaker, which is customarily given to preserve the status quo.

It is authoritatively stated that if the Bill is rejected by the Legislative Council it will probably not be introduced into the House of Representatives. The view is that even if the Lower House were to approve the measure, it must later again he rejected by the Upper House, the more so because two of the supporter* of the Bill, the Hon, Sir Heaton Rhodes and the Hon, L, M, Isitt, are due to retire from the Council at the end of the present month. It is extremely probable, therefore, that if the Bill is defeated this week, it will not be heard of again at least during the present session, PROFICIENCY EXAMINATION.

NO CHANGE MADE THIS YEAR. WELLINGTON, Oct. 20. In the House of Representatives, replying to Mr R. A. Wright, (C., Wellington Suburbs), the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes said that it was not. intended to make a charge for children sitting for the proficiency examination this year. Mr J. McCombs- (L., Lyttelton), sought leave to introduce the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill (No. 2),. He explained that his previous Bill had sought to re-ena-ct those clauses of the Act which had been repealed by last session's legislation, and to declare null and void those awards and agreements made under the legislation of Hast session. The Bill lie was now proposing to introduce went further than this, in that it proposed to revive those awards and agreements in force prior to the last session's legislation. The Bill ivae introduced and read a first time.

The. Marriage Amendment Bill (Mr H. G. R. Mason, L. Auckland Suburbs), was introduced and read 1 a first time. The . debate on the Ottawa agreement was continued, and wlas unfinished when the House rose at 11.20 p.m-.