GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Kumara Times, Issue 286, 4 September 1877, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[PRKSa AGENCY.] HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, August 31. A resolution was passed that for the remainder of the session the House meet on Mondays. Mr Curtis resumed the debate on the Education Bill. He considered it generally a very excellent measure. He thought reading the Bible and the ■ Lord’s Prayer should be left to the de* cision of Local Committees, and he would move an amendment to assimilate the BUI to the Nelson system in re* gard to religious instruction. Mr Barff thoroughly agreed with Ml* Curtis. The Nelson system worked admirably in Westland. Mr Qialwtne said .Tews could not be ; expected to read the Lord's prayer,,, or • Catholics the Protestant ; Bible. The/ . , amendment of Mr Curtis would 'do justice, to a large section of the community who, from, conscientious scruples would otherwise be excluded fromthe benefits of the system they were taxed to support, while they would not infringe the principle of purely secular education by the state. Dr Henry would support the Bill if amended as Mr Curtis proposed, but not otherwise. ~ . Mr Wakefield would strongly oppose the religious clauses in the bill. They meant Protestant, not secular education- ' The debate was interrupted by the usual adjournment. The House was 'occupied all Iwt night discussing the Education Bill Mi; Wakefield opposed the religious clauses. Mr Curtis’ amendment •jhe 1 ' considered, more objectionable still. • ; ’ Mr Lusk warmly praised the Auckland system. The Bill was too centra-. Using, otherwise it was good Dr Wallis warmly supported the Bill as the best compromise He objected, however, to a state monoply of, education. Catholic schools should he subsidised if they gave as good education as State Schools. Mr Delatour believed the Bill shadowed forth heavy taxation; lie r: would subsidise Catholic Schools if nceasary. Mr Hodgkinson on. the whole, He ' considered the Bill a fair one. ~ - Mr Pyke moved the adjournment. ii. The House rose at ,12 15. a.m. The House met at 2.30. ; • Mr Pyke resumed the debate on the Education Bill. He would support the ■ BUI. The Bible • reading clause ' was an outrage on Catholics and' and as a Pfostestant he prdt^to7 j against it. Her thought the : State should encourage private educational far as possible. He believed b . ment by results to all schools. * Mr Russell would forbid all BIMS ' reading and prayers jn public schools u a mere farce, and would support iMjr.,, Curtis’ amendments. The system wag 1 ., preyed to work well in Nelson, land, and Hawkes Bay. P . . ' Mr Seymour opposed the Bible read*-/ , ing clause and supported Mr CHirtu' amendment., , Mr Bunny would oppose the third : reading unless Mr Curttf amendment' Vas adopted. Mr Montgomery bisected to, the/ Bible reading and opposed Mr Oortis* amendment Mr Gibbs warmly supported Mr . Curtis' amendment. Mr Handera opposed Bible reading. Mr Tola opposed the Billgenerally> ... it was uiyust to those who oonsoien*...! tionsly objected to such a system.;. The* ffyyemment should assist those' whoe%’* . themselves. The BUI woqld make the poor pay for the education « the rich. The Bill thb p . most obnoxious form. He the objections commonly urged against - assisting Denominational and advocated payment by results. • • The debate was interrupted at 5 SO. September A ; Sir G. Grey thought education and charitable institutions should have been included in one measured The Bill was a wicked proposal to introduce r religious .. dissensions, and set class against class. It would make the poCr pay for educating the rich. He objected to reduce every thing to a dead level and opposed the conscience clause as an injustice to a large section of the community. He revetted that provision for secondary education was totally neglected. The provisions for rbgblh& ‘ ing scholarships and resertes were fin- v just. State education should be absolutely fiee. No provision was ; - madCfor ■- orphan and dsstitate\flhildfefi.v^fixiMFl , '-' > ' ; - in another monstrously unjurt bill. Hc 1 protested, against hurrying through; ; bill which would place £o,ooo' people under a deep sense of wrong. s Mr hheehan thought denominational. schools poly possible in towns. -• Hb desired to see the bill made entirely • secular, instead of a ntiseraj>le compromise. Mr Stout thought the consciences of those who belonged to no church de-

? Betted TOnrideratioH, the duty of the State regarding secondary sg well as .primary r hddcdtiou. He thought Government jfchis year, should only have ' hroiigtt in' a bm‘providing for inspection, and funds .for carrying on thh existing system. The Bill must be made purely ■secular. ■ Mi? Fox urged our learning from American experience which he thought WaS satiafactory. Everyone benefitted by Hying' 1 amongst an educated and civilized « community, and' therefore all should pay for education, which was done through the consolidated revenue. Those Whose' children were educated contributed' by capitation. He believed the people generally desired the Bible read in schools. It would be monstrous to inffi it the only book Specially exeluded. ictibols would not meet Catholic requirements. Mr Curtis’ amendment was pure denominatiOnaiistn, Mr Rowe thought the Auckland' Bystem as nearly perfect as possible. He bad never heard any complairit; Against it. The religious dauses must be excised from the Bill to make it a national measure. Mr Woolcock strongly supported the Bill as it stood, hut was willing to see the religious clauses struck out, in defence to the sentimental news of others. Mr O’Rourke supported Mr Curtis’ (amendment, as similar to the Canadian (System, where it worked admirably. • ‘Messrs Lumsden, Fisher, Shrimskie, End Wood /(MatauVa) suppotted the omission of the religious clauses. Mr Baigenit supported Mr Curtis’ amendment. Mr Bowen replied acknowledging ‘ the temperate tone of . the 'discussion. Government did not desire to do more than was necessary at present. He desired to make an Education Act acceptable to the people. . While avoiding evils in local representation be was Willing to accept any better method of doing this. He believed the funds provided would px*ove ample, as buildings, scholarships, and normal would be otherwise provided for. 'The £loo,ooo'for buildings he would divide in proportion to the deficiency between existing accommodation and the number of children requiring It," in each district He did not think Clause 85 would interfere with_t.beliberty of conscience ef anyone. He objected to the bigotry of secularism but did not think any practical difficulty would arise under the Bill. Mr .'Curtis’ amendment was imcomputehle with the principle of the Bill amcipould not he-adopted. No capitation wopld be, levied: on childre.n receiving Sfßtiiii education ontside State Schools.' •Tto second reading was carried .by41'tcHfi. v ■ ■ : ffjfee Census, Friendly Sodeftie’s, and InausWious Society Bill were read a second time. The House rose at 12.10