TELEGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 203, 2 September 1871, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE.

PAR LI AMEN T ARY. Mr. Fox moved the second reading of the Education Bill in an excellent Bpeech. The bill, he said, closely adhered to Mr, Richmond's resolutions adopted last session, and was really little else than a consolidation of the existing provincial Acts. Government was quite willing to accept amendments calculated to improve education, provided 'itvi'wotil_t':be';'ipe)igious,but not sectarian. The conscience clauses were the same as,. Mr.; ;i Forster's. He acknowledged his obligations to Mr. J. C. Richmond, who first-' induced the 1 House; to take practical jb taps towards the bill, and to Mr. Hislopf who labored day andi night preparing it,

Mr. Curtis intimated his intention of moving amendments to assimilate^'the provisions of the bill more to the Nelspn Act, and make the Central Board elected by district committees. A household vote j was preferable to a property vote. He I would make all schools free, and tho reading of the Bible optional with two,con_--mittees.' He objected to ( the proposed ' system of aiding schools. Tbe Nelson i plan of assisting separate schools was better. No sufficient machinery was provided to enforce the compulsory clauses. The whole education fund of a province should be raised and apportioned by the Nelson, I feel that I have been cqngklerGentral Board, and district committees should not fix the salary of teachers. Mr. Tribe thought the machinery of the bill unnecessarily complicated. Mr. Bathgate approved of the bill generally, but be protested against aiding: schools, ns introducing the .denominational system. He preferred a purely secular system, and would even yield lip the reading of the Bible, feeling secure .in a thoroughly national system. In Otago they objected to have denominational system thrust upon them. It would spoil all heretefore done. He preferred a property to a householder rate. . r Mr. Steward heartily supported /the measure, but advocated a purely secular system aud military training. .Teachers should have a representative at the Central Board. The debate was adjourned until Tuesday next.