Monday, 27th May.

Southland Times, Issue 1585, 31 May 1872, Page 3

Monday, 27th May.

Mr Hallenstein, the member for the Lakes, took his seat for the first time. Mr Tolmie moved—" That a Select Committee be appointed for the purpose of taking into consideration, and report to this Houss, the position of the Province in reference to the expenditure of the loans for immigration and public works ; and also as to the distribution of the burdens of past loans, and the future management of public works within the Province: such Committee to consist of Mr Speaker (with his consent), Mr Eeid, Mr Eeynolds, Mr Lumsden, Hon. Dr Menzies, Hon. Mr M'Lean, Mr Shepherd, and the Mover." Carried. Mr Moliison moved—"lst. That, in the opinion of this Council, the charge of fifty guineas made for boarders at the Dunedin High School is excessive, and entirely defeats the object contemplated by this Council, in voting a large sum of money for the erection of premises for the accommodation of boarders ; and that

the charge for board, exclusive of schoo. fees, should not exceed £30 per annum 2nd. That, inasmuch as the Hector has declined to reduce the charges for boarders, and that he asserts they have been a loss to him, this Council is of opinion that the Government should take steps to secure a qualified person to take charge of boarders at the above rate." After Mr Mollison had addressed the Council in support of the motion, Mr Bastings rose to second it. He suggested that as it appeared the Sector was unable to make any reduction, the Government might effect an arrangement with some other person. There were many respectable places in town where boys could be sent at a cost of £30 per annum, but the great anxiety of parents was that their children should have some reliable person to watch over them after school hours ; to see, in fact, that their conduct was all that it ought to be. Mr Reid said it was quite reasonable that the Council should endeavor to get the High School carried on at the lowest possible rate, always provided that the person who had charge of the pupils did not lose by the transaction. It had been said that some persons were absolutely debarred, by the rate charged at the High. School, from sending their children to school at all ; but he pointed out that parents were not thereby debarred from sending their children to private schools. It had been truly said that besides the ordinary education, parents were naturally anxious that-the- morals and manners of their children should be formed by a proper person, who should also prepare them for their school exercises. Well, if it was desired that somebody should undertake these responsibilities, it was very evident that they would, have to be; paid for, because private tutors would bei required. It was scarcely fair to say thatj because some people could not afford to; pay the rate now charged, it therefore: should be reduced — a course which might j result in the Rector losing by the trans-! action. He (Mr Reid) could not afford, to send some of his children to the High School, but he had not, urged that as a; reason why the- rate should be reduced, nor did he think it was a reason. Perhaps the best explanation he could give of the matter, would be to read Mr Hawthorne's letter on the subject. Mr Reid then read a letter from Mr Hawthorne, to the effect-that the Board-* ing Establishment at the High School was not a place where the boys were, merely to be fed and lodged, but that their studies had to be superintended by a resident tutor, and their training so conducted as to influence the rest of the school, and that this had been done, up to the present time, at a loss. He (Mr Reid) therefore hoped that the Council would not adopt the motion. It should not be forgotten that they were anxious to make the school attractive to people 1 residing outside the Province, as well as to those living in it, but he doubted whether that object would be secured if it were understood that the question was merely whether the fees should be increased or reduced by £1 for boarding the pupils. If the Council decided to take any action in the matter, he thought it would be advisable to appoint a committee, and let the Rector state his own case. — (Hear, hear). After some discussion, the Council divided on the motion with the following result :- — Ayes, 14 ; noes, 17. The motion was therefore lost. The following is the division list :- — - . Ayes— Messrs Armstrong, Barr, Bastings, Browne G-. F. C, Clark (teller), Green, Henderson, Mollison (teller), M* Arthur, M'Dermid, M'Kenzie, Shand, Smith, Thomson. Noes — Messrs Allan, Bathgate, Blacklock, Bradshaw (teller), Daniel, Hallenstein, Holmes (teller), Hutcheson, Lumsden, Macassey, Menzies, Mervyn, M'Lean, Reid, Reynolds, Tolmie, Webster. Mr M'Arthur moved — " That a respectful Address be presented to His Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to lay on the table a copy of all the correspondence, if any,^ tending to throw light upon the statement of tbe Rev. Dr Moran, reported in the Press of the 7fch and Bth current, as to an alleged violation of the faith of Roman Catholic, children by the authorities of the Industrial School." Carried. Mr M'Arthur moved — " That a respectful Address be presented to His Honor the Superintendent, requesting that the road from Winton to Benmore be added to tbe list of roads for which payment is to be made in land, and that 1 000 acres be set apart for the purpose of maintaining said road in a reasonable state of repair." ; The motion was carried in the following amended form :— " That a respectful Address be presented to His Honor the Superintendent, requesting that the road from Winton to Benmore — the crossingplace of the Oreti river — be added to the list of roads for which payment is to be made in land, and that 500 acres be set apart for the purpose of maintaining said road in a reasonable state of repair." Several Bills were considered in committee. The Education Bill was committed. In the section providing that school committees can levy rates at the rate of in the £, 3d was inserted in the blank. Mr Macassey said that the Council had already had under its consideration the question of endowment to Roman Catholic schools — and an opinion having been given upon the question, he did riot desire to re-open it now. But this question of rating raised a point that had not been considered before. It was proposed to introduce a new feature into our Education system — that of levying rates upon Roman Catholics in order to maintain our present Protestant system of Education, which they could {not avail themselves of. With the 4 object of getting time to prepare an amendment, he would move that progress be reported, and leave asked to sit again. Mr Reid opposed the motion. The , Council had come to the conclusion that the Provincial system of Education should

be made universal, so that all could participate in it. Such being so, he failed to see why everyone should not be rated equally alike. Mr Gillies opposed the motion, saying that Education must be considered in the way in which it would be best for the community as a whole, and so treated. Mr Lumsden said that had the Council adopted a purely secular system of Education, he should have voted for the rating power. But the Council having adopted a denominational system, which some members of the community could not take advantage of, a concession must therefore be allowed them. That they should be rated for what they could not use, was, he considered, a gross injustice. Had the Council gone in for a purely secular system, available to all, he should have voted for the rating. Mr M'Derraid opposed the proposed tax, as it would cause disturbance throughout the country. Mr Mervyn agreed with Mr Lumsden. It was unfair to compel a portion of the community to pay for a system eminently denominational, and which they could not take advantage of. Had the rate been for a purely secular system, it should have had his support. Dr Menzies opposed the motion. Mr Eeid said while he understood Mr Macassey from his point of view, he did not understand Messrs Mervyn and Lumsden from theirs. Mr Bastings - opposed the principle of rating, because it would lead to illfeeling. Mr Eeid said that a resolution not to proceed with the Bill would be a severe blow to our educational institutions. Mr Macassey's motion waa carried by 18 to 15, there voting — Ayes, 18 : Armstrong, Barr, Basstian (teller), Bastings, Brown J. C, Browne GK F. C, Daniel, Green, Lumsden, Macassey, Mervyn, Moliison, M'Glashan (teller), M'Lean, Shand, Smith, Tolmie, and Webster. Noes, 15 : Allan, Bathgate (teller), Bradshaw, Clark, Cutten, Duncan, GJ-illies, Henderson, Holmes, Menzies, M' Arthur (teller), M'Dermid, M'Kenzie, Eeid, and Eeynolda. Progress having been reported, and leave obtained to sit again, the House adjourned till 2 o'clock on Tuesday.