PARLIAMENT.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 1053, 29 June 1883, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Thursday June 28. The Pensions Bill was read a first time. A discussion took place upon a motion by Mr'Beetbam, that the Colonies should be represented in the Imperial Parliament, but the. debate was ultimately adjourned. At the evening sitting, Mr Green moved the second reading of the Bible reading in - Schools Bill, Messrs; Rolleslon, Montgomery, and others, opposed the Bill, which was supported by Messrs Macandrew, Fulton, and several members, who were of opinion that the youth of the Colony were growing up in ignorance of religious matters. At II o’clock Mr Bathgate continued the debate, warmly supporting the Bill and avowing his readiness to recognise the , claims of the Catholics. He held that the whole basis, of morality rested on the Bible, and that to prescribe it in our schools was to encourage infidelity, and lay the seeds of revolution. Mr Leveslam opposed the Bill, and he thought a good example would have more force in teaching morality than any Bible reading. Mr Munro suggested that a text book of Biblical history might be prepared to meet all denominations. Mr Daniel and Mr Connolly opposed, and Mr Sutter supported the Bill. Mr Tomoana opposed it as it would cause trouble and dissension in the schools, as; religious differences did in the world. Mr Ivess would suppol’t the Bill if made permissive instead of compulsory. Mr Feldwick supported and Mr Petrie and Mr o ? Callaghan opposed the Bill. The Hon. T. Dick supported it, although it was not quite in the form be would like. The question was an open one with the Government. Mr Shrimski opposed the Bill. Mr Green, in reply, expressed his willingness to make Bible, reading optional with committees. Mr Seddon’s motion for adjournment was put and lost on a division of 54 tb 14. Mr Buchanan moved the previous

question but this vras negatived on the voices and the House divided on the second reading of the Bill. Ayes 16.—Messrs Bathgate, Dick, Fcldwick, Fulton, M. Green, Hursthousc, Ivess, Joyce, Larnach, Lee, Macandrew, J. McKenzie,.Postlethwaite Steward, Sutter, Turnbull. Noes, 52—Messrs Allwright, Barron, Beetham, Bracken, J. O. Brown, J. E. Brown, Bryce, J. Buchanan, W. O. Buchanan, Cadman, Connolly, Daniel, De Lantour, Duncan, Pish, Fergus, Fitzgerald, George, Sir G. Grey, Messrs Hamlin, Harris, Hurst, C. Johnston, Kylly, Levestam, Mclllwraith, McMillan, Mitchelson, Montgomery, Moss, Morris, Munro, O’Callaghan, Peacock, Petrie, Rolleston, Seddori, Shaw, Shepherd, Shrimskie, Stevens, Sutton, Swanson, Tawhia, JV W. Thompson, Tole, Tomoana, Trimble, Watt, White, Whyte, Wynn-Williams. Pair aye.—J. Wilson. ; No.—rM. J.-, Green. fe The Bill was thrown out, and the House rose at 1,20 a. m.