PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5144, 18 September 1877, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Monday, September 17. The Speaker took the chair at the usual hour. petitions. Sir GEORGE GREY presented a petition from a number of natives of Wanganui, prayinv for rehearing of certain cases adjudicated upon by the Native Land Court, in consequence of the wrong insertion of certain names in the certificates of title. Several other petitions were presented and notices of motion given. PRIVILEGE QUESTION. Mr. REES, as a matter of privilege, desired to move, without notice, fox* the appointment of a committee to inquire whether Mr. Kennedy had not forfeited his seat in the House of Representatives, through his alleged acceptance, during the recess, of certain Government contracts. The SPEAKS ll quite admitted the right of the hon. member to move, without notice, for the appointment of the committee of inquiry. As however it was not a matter of such urgent importance as to demand a reply that day, perhaps the hon. member moving for the appointment of the committee would see that it was more desirable to give notice of tbe motion, in order that tbe House might know what was taking place. Mr. REES then gave notice that he would move next day for the appointment of the committee of inquiry. BILL INTRODUCED. Leave was granted to Mr. Stout to introduce a Bill to provide for the Management and Endowment of the Otago Museum and Dunedin Athenxeum and Mechanics’ Institute. The second reading of the Bill was fixed for the 26th inst. EDUCATION BILL. The House proceeded to the further consideration of this Bill in committee. The whole of the clauses relating to levying and collecting the capitation fees were, after much discussion and many amendments, struck out of the Bill. Clause 81 passed without alterations. A lengthened discussion ensued on the course of instruction to be provided in the public schools. Elementary mechanics was altered to elementary science. Mr. Macandrew proposed that anatomy be included in the studies. He believed that it.was of Greater importance even than tbe Local Option Bill, for more evils resulted from the want of knowledge of the human frame' than from the use of alcohol. Mr.. Maoandrew, however, withdrew his amendment on the request of Mr. Bowen, who said it was inadvisable to load the Bill with so many provisions.—Mr. Gisborne proposed that social economics be taught in the schools.—Mr. Stout supported the amendment, and said that the establishment of savings banks would inculcate saving qualities amongst the boys.—Mr. Wakefield objected. He thought it would be better to teach the boys to be manly and generous than to be mere money-grubbers. He wished to know whether the art of cookery was included in the subject of social economics. He was answered in the affirmative ; and Mr, Prayers spoke at some length as to the evils arising from the want of knowledge of the art of cookery in the homes of the less educated of the British people.—Mr. Sharp painted out that it would he necessary to provide the appliances in the various schools, which he did not think could be furnished.—The Hon. Mr. Bowen thought the words “ social science ” would include everything necessary to be taught in the direction of the amendment of Gisborne.— I The words “ the principles of domestic economy ” were ultimately added to tbe course of instruction. A division was taken on the clause “No child shall be compelled to be present at the teaching of history whose parents or guardians shall object.” The clause was retained by a majority of 54 to 4. Mr. W. Wood moved an addition to subsection 2 of clause 85, —“ That the teaching shall he of a purely secular character.” Mr. Wood’s motion was carried by 39 to 19. The following is the division list : Ayes 39. — Ballance, Bastings, Brandon. Brown. J. C (Tuapeka), Bryce. Curtis, De Lautour, Dignan, Fisher, Gibbs, Gisborne, Hamlin, Hodgkinson, Hunter, Johnston. 'Joyce, Kelly, Kenny, Lumsden, Montgomery, Morris, Kichardson, Richmond, Eowe, Seaton. Seymour, Sharp, Sheehan, Shrlmski, Stevens, Stout (teller), Swanson. Taiaroa, Thomson. Travers. Wakefield, Whitaker, Wood, W. (teller). Woolcock. Noes, 19.— Baigent, Barff (teller), Bowen, Burns (teller), Carrington, Douglas, Fox, Harper, Henry, Macandrew, McLean, Nahe, Ormond, Keid, Reynolds, Eolleston, Tawiti, Wallis. Williams.

Mr. Curtis moved that the -words “may, if the committee think fit,” be substituted for the word “ shall ” in the first line of the following sub-section : —“ The school _ shall be opened every morning with the reading of the Lord’s Prayer and a portion of the Holy Scriptures. With this exception, the teaching shall be of a purely secular character, and no child shall attend at the reading herein provided for if his or her parents or guardians inform the teacher or the committee in writing that they object to such attendance.” —Mr. Macandubw moved to the effect that separate provision be made for Catholic children having read to them any prayer or portion of the Scriptures approved by the Catholic Church,—Mr. Gisborne was of opinion that it would be beter to strike out all provisions referring to religion.—l)r. Wallis made a long speech, in the course of which he said if they took away the Bible they would be robbing children of a knowledge of the whole root of civilisation.—Mr. Stout spoke in favor of a system of purely secular education.—The Hon. Mr. Bowen_ having replied, a division was taken on Mr. Curtis’ amendment, with the following result : —Ayes, 19 ; noes, 35. —0 n the motion of Mr. Sheehan, the whole sub-section was struck out without a division,—Mr. Macandrew said the striking out of the religious portion of the Bill was an outrage upon the majority of the people of the colony, and if he was in charge of the Bill he would withdraw it.—The Hon, Mr. Bowen objected to do this, as he believed it was still a useful measure. The matter was in the hands of the House.

An addition was made to clause 89, to the effect that it he in the power of the Board to assist private schools in outlying districts where the population was not sufficiently large to support a public school. On the compulsory clause of the Bill coming on for discussion, Mr. Gisborne moved that if the child was being regularly instructed elsewhere it would be a sufficient exemption from attendance at a public school, thereby striking out the words “ under efficient instruction otherwise.” On a division the amendment was lost by 29 to 23. It was then moved by Mr. Stout that attendance at some private school or other educational institution not supported by the Board should be deemed an exemption.—Mr. Sheehan thought it would be an absolute act of ‘ tyranny to put the absolute compulsory clause in force in districts which were thinly populated. He would suggest that the adoption of the compulsory clause should be left to the school committee of the district. The Hon. Mr. Bowen pointed out that the compulsory principle had been adopted all over the United States of America, where in many parts the population was as much scattered as in New Zealand. The compulsory clause in the Bill was of as lenient a character as possible, and he did not think its operation would be felt harshly. It would not be advisable to have compulsory education in one part of the colony and not in another. The principle would have to be adopted some day, and it would be better to face it at once. Mr. Stout’s amendment was carried, and also the words « or regular” after tho word “efficient” in same sub-section. The House then (at 12.30) adjourned.