PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 180, 1 August 1903, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

FEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.

LEGISLA.Ti.VIS COUNCIL.

Fkiday, July 31.

The Council met at 2.30,

The Legitimation Act Amendment Bill, and Intestates E-iUtes Bill were read a third time and passed. The Road and Town Districts Ritiug Bill p«sed through Committee unamended, was read a third time and passed. The Privileges Committee reported that the insertion of a telegram from Rcbjohns, Elindmarsh aud Co, in tha report on the Tied Housss Bill Committee last session was uoj a breach of privilege. The Council adjourned.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

Fkiday, July 31.

The House met at 2.30 p.m NEW BILLS.

Thd Supreme Cou<t Judges Bill and Fire Prevention Bill were intioiuced by Governor's message and re>d a first time

The Bush and Swamp Crown Lands Settlement Bill (Duncan), and New Plymouth Harbour Baa-d Empowering Bill (Smith) were introduced and read a first time.

EDUCATION. Committees were set up to deal with the question* of educition, and old iga pensions regula'ions.

In the eour e of a discussion on the] moion for the Education Committee, Mr Taylor compliined that the order of reference was tao wid**, and the ground could not be covered this session. He wanted the assurance of the Government that this was not an attempt to burke the whole question. Tho proper way to deal with the g'C indary education difficulty was for the Government to bring in proposals dealing with the subject. Mr Ell said the education question had too long been left entirely in the bands of the executive, and it was time members of th 9 Hoasa had something to do with it.

Mr Buddo urge! that the work of of the committee as to primary education should be confined to reporting on the presentcurriculum,and on secondary education on tho subj <cts tanghfc, the B'aodatd of proficiency, and the age limit for admission.

Mr Millar considered the question of fiist importance was fully r quipped training colleges for teachers. Mr Hanan thought what was required was a Royal Commission to irquire into the whola question of education.

Messrs T. McKenzi", Lewis, Tanner, Herriee, Masßey and Bollard al o spoke briefly. Mr Sjddon, in reply, said he looked upon the order of reference bs to primary education as the most important branch of the committee's work. Improvement |could be made in our primary system and it should b<* made at the crli sb possible moment. As io complaints that appropriations voted last session had no!; been paid to tha school committee?, he said the matter would be provided for this eessior, and he would have a clause inserted in the Appropriation Act providing for payment direct to committees. As to requests foi increased educational grant o , he was preparing ihe Financial Statement, and he found that despite his desire to economise there must be increases in the Estimates this year. He would like to give £20,000 or £30,000 increase in the Eiucition vote alone this year, and he believed it would be money well spent, bus th-y had to cut their coit according to their cloth in some rrsp'cts, However, there would be a satisfactory increase in this vote. A Bid" would be introduced this session to compel Boards of Governors to carry out the wishes of Parliam?nt in regard to secondary education. i

QUESTIONS, In reply to questions Ministers stated the time Lad not arrived for limiting the export of ewe lambs owing tc reduction of the number cf sheep in the colony as disclosed by the interim return for 1903 ; that the Government could not assisb Agricultural and Pastoral Societies by giving prizes for certain exhibits thereat, as it was thought money could be better spent in other ways ; that legislation wou'd be introduced to provide for remission of fees on Grown grants which have been left for a numbsr of years in the custody of a Government officer; that is was not proposed to introduce a Fair Kent Bill this session, as there was no chance of passing it. Mr Bedford gava notice to ask the Premier whather, in view of the decision of the Fall Court refusing a mandamus to compel the Newtown Licencing Committee to issue license?, and in view of the prospect of further ex pen'ive litigation on the appual to tha Privy Council, tha Government will introduce immediately a Bill to provide for a second poll in all cases wherj th-.i local option pall has been declared void by a magistrate, seeing that whatever decision the Privy Oouocil arrives at the Governcm-nt will be bound to provide a second poll, or in some other way give effect to the will of the people. The House rose at 5.30 p.m.

Events a Sitting. The Housa resumed at 7.30 p.m. PATRIOTIC FUNDS. Mr S-ddon moved the second , ing of the Patriotic Funds Bill to proj vide for the application of the 1 uoexpjndtd balance of cer'ain funds j raised or received in New Z aland in connection, with the t'outh African | war. Ho said application had been made by the tius'eea of the funds that J hid met all calls upon them for legislative section to divert the surplus money to other purpose?. Ho mi.;lit say that he did not altogether agree I with the trustees in this request, as he believed th ra were cHims stiil unsatisfied in somi places, but he supposed I there was nothing for it but to fall in . f-wit.h the wishe3 of tha trustees. I Mr Aitken held th:it the tirns was no!: yai rp< for this Bill. His expsrieace during the past six months had convinced bisn tlut i 1; would be a year or two before all goiiuina claims had been me':, He urged the Premier to hold over the Bill.

Mr Millar supported the Bill. Messrs Buchanan, Harries, Massey, and T. McK.etzie opposed the Bill. Sir Joseph Ward s-iid that sin-. 1 the subicribeM t> the fundi nhould have the right to siy what shou'il become of tlw sniplne. I'> w-is b -tvr to 'he <r>.o .ey profit .lilo ttiui! ' ' if regain i 'lo.

M' - Tnyl »• miVid t'i >t the Hi ' read a second tiinj tix montusi houoj,

In the course of farther discussion, Mr Batber suggested a clause being inserted s> ipulating that the 8.1 l should not come into operation unt l a later date, and Mr Sadd.-n agreed to that |course being adopted. After further debit?, Mr Taylor's |amendment was negatived by 30 to 20, and the second reading agreed to on 'h*' voices. MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS REGISTRATION, Sir J >s-'p W rd moved the second reidini> of the Medical Practiioners Rayiv-ration Bill, which ses out; the qmlifica-ions required for registration of medical practitioners. In reply to Sir Wm. Kussell, Sir Joseph WV.rd Stid the main portion of the Uiil wis brought in at the requrs* of the Medical Association of New Zealand.

The second reading was agreed to, MISCELLANEOUS.

The Inebriites Insti'ution Amend ment Bill (Hall Jones), and First Offende's Probition Amendment Bil (McQowaii), both of which have passed the Legisla'ive Council, were read a second time without debate. Hoo. T. Y. Duncan moved the second reading of the Dairy Industry Act Extension Bi l, which extends th time wherein 1-ans under the D-iiry Industry Act, 1896, made be mido. Mr Heiriei thought the condition of the loacs w ( ra too stringect.

Hon. T. Y. Duncan consid. red the terms were not too stringent. He would look into the mitt.tr, and sec whether anything could be done to ensure the Act being more widely availed of,

The second reading was agreed to on the voces,

On the motion of Sir Joseph Watd, the Wireless Telegraph Bill, which controls the establishment t f the Marconi pysten in New Zjaland, was read a second t : m-\ COASTWISE TRADE BEBTBIOTION, Mr Seddon moved the second reading of the Coastwise Trade Bill to restrict or prohibit coastal trade in New Zealand by ships cf oertain countries. He considered it unreasonable to allow free trade between our pjrts as long as foreign countries bad coastwise laws against British vessels Before Honolulu was annexed by America any New iTeihnd vessel could carry cargo between Honolulu and 'Frisco, tut that could not ba done ' now. Under the German end Americin coastwise hws Apia and Pagopago were now closed to trade by New Z ia land vessels. America was increasing her possessions in the Smtb Sea Inlands, and tint would probibly lead | to further injury to the trade of the i Colonies and Britain. The recent J Premier's Conference was practically un.niraous that the matter should be referred to the Colonial Parliaments for : th.'-ir views.' There could be no sound argument against the proposal. The position had not b:=en forced by New or Hreat Biitaio, but it hal | been brought a;oui by the fC'ion of | other nations, though the Bill was nM; | meant in an unfriendly spirit to them. Lefs Sitting.