PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 18 July 1891, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF BEPBESENTATIVES.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15. ' The Hon the Speaker took the chair at 2.80 p.m. l The Premier said a caveat had been issued to prevent Sir James Fergusson, Bart., taking up a block | |of land in the Waikato district, I which the House had recommended i should be reserved for the Native owners. The Minister of Lands said the , Government were collecting inform, ation on fruit growing. They con- ' sidered it a very important industry j and intended to support it in every possible way, thinking that a good [ plan would be the appointment of an expert to assist fruit growers in the ; technical part of their work. ; Mr Earnshaw's motion that the [ Government take into consideration the advisability of providing school '■ books and requisites to scholars at ' first cost, and the necessity of pro- ! ducing a national school book or ; books dealing in a practical manner ' with agriculture, minerals, customs of the people, natural history, con- ! figuration, &c, of, 1 New Zealand, ; was agreed to on the voices, the [ Premier having stated that the re- ( solution had the general sympaty of the Government, but thought it .; would be little use unless they gave \ the (jovernment power to secure uniformity of school books, and to force : the Boards to take those books. . ' tin making the motion he complained • of the expense parents were put to for « .school books, and said it was a matter that ought to be taken into their vary serious consideration. As^ to the second part of the motion, he hoped the time was not far distant when a child would, on leaving school posses a good knowledge of the Colony, its industries, minerals, &c. The Divorce Ameudment Bill was read a second time. Mr Palmer moved the second reading of the Government Railways Act Repeal Bill, which was" de■signed to take the control of the railways out of the hands of the Railway Commissioners, and replace it in the hands of the Government. ; The Minister for Public "Works "said the Government, in the interests of the Colony, opposed the Bill. The Commissioners had really done very well, but he believed the change required was not so much in the workings of the railways, bat for a nonpolitical board to say where they should be made. As at present constituted no one could make them pay, as the great fault had been in their construction, and the political influence that got them constructed. This was too large a question to be dealt with by a Bill brought in by a private member. It was a question policy, and should be dealt with by the Government, who accepted their responsibility in that respect. After many members had spoken, the debate was adjourned for a week. The second reading of the The Coroners' Juries Abolition Bill wris carried. The House rose at 12. 85. THURSDAY, JULY 16. The Speaker took the chair at 2.80. The Native Minister said the Government were considering means to do away with the injustice now existing in respect to divisional fencing between European and Native landsSir George Grey moved the second reading of the Law Practitioners' Bill, intended to .remove certain restrictions relative to the admission of persons to practice the profession of the law. The motion as agreed to on the voices. Mr G. Hutchinson moved the second reading of the Private Schools Bill, giving a capitation allowance to all private schools conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Education Act, 18,77, and with an average daily attendance of 50 pupils. The number of pupils who would come under the Act would be about 7500, making an expenditure on capitation of £14,000. It was said that the passing of this Bill would endanger the State system of education, but if that was the case ' the State system must be a very meagre one indeed. Bather he believed the State system would oe invigorated by the rivalry that would ; be engendered by the passing of such ' a measure. : After a long discussion a division ' was taken and the second reading 1 was lost by 15, the figures being — i Ayes, 18 ; noes, 88. The division ( list was as follows : — Ayes, 18. — Messrs Ballance, Buick i Oarncross, Carroll, Duncan, Hall, i Hall-Tones, G. Hutchinson (teller), 1 W. Kelly, Mackintosh, McGuire, C. 1 H. Mills, Parata, Perceval, Rees i (teller), W. C. Smith, Valentine, 1 Ward. • I Noes, 88. — Messrs Buchanan, < Buckland, Cadman, Duthie, Earn- < shaw, Fergus, ) Fisher, Guinness, i Harkness, Hogg, Houston, M. ' Hutchison, Joyce, J. Kelly, Lawry, ] M. J. S. Mackenzie (teller), Meredith ' (teller), Mitchelson, Moore, Newman 1 Pinkerton, W. P. Reeves, Rhodes, i i Richardson, Rolleston, Saunders, ' i

Shera, Swan, Tanner, E. Thompson T. Thompson, J. W. Thomson. Pairs.— For the Bill— Messrs R. H. J. Reeves, Fish, Russell, Kapa, Wilson, O'Conor, and Taipna. Againdt— Messrs Wright, Bryce, Palmer, Hamlin, Macarthur, Seddon and T. Mackenzie. ' ry. "* The House rose at 2.10. -■. ;'