From Behind the Speaker's Chair.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7883, 27 July 1905, Page 4

From Behind the Speaker's Chair.

(From Our Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, July 22. . The pension scheme outlined in tbe Ministerial Bill is on right lines ai.d everybody seems to he oi that opinion. At any late, every one approves of the principle of making provision aga'ijis-t, a rainy day, the inevitable rainy day, when live system gives way and poverty is the lot of the unhappy toiler who has not had a large wage enough to enable him to make provision tor the dark time. The percentages oi suoscriptioii at the various ages an.l the pciiods fixed for contribution ana ictiicmeni and the arrangements made for the various vicissitudes of life whereby many arc prevented from leaching the fixed limits seem to be all that ought to be expected. These things arc matters for actuarial consideration. Moreover, it is also good that the pension fund is to be subsidised by the State and guaranteed into the bargain ; for nothing is worse <han the failure of a provident fund, and as the Stale un-.iei-takes the management of this one it is only right that the State should be obliged to guarantee the same. What one would like to see to make the thing perfect as well as complete is provision for raising the salaries of the teachers very substantially. "Fit tlie pension scheme on to a system of decent screws," said an old educational Parliamentarian,, one who rememliers when Mr Speaker llowen was Minister of Education and wo had the- first glimpse of the Education Act. "Do that," he said, "and you won't find much amiss with your system of education for the next century." This is especially cogent when one reflects on the importance not attached to the teacher's office throughout the land. Take the recommendations of the Committee of the Agricultural Conference with respect to rural education. The principle underlying those recommendations is that the teachers are not only responsible for the culture of the scholars but for the profits of the coming generation of farmers and their successful competition against the rest of tlie world. Whether the Committee wanted too much, Wanted to collar the whole education system of the country is another thing. We shall hear something about that when the subject comes before the House. There it will be said, as til. educationist member aforesaid declared, that after all the country is not composed exclusively of farmers. There Mr Hogben's plea whifh he seemed to put in at the meeting of the Committee is likely to have more weight ; namely, that the department is already going as far in the direct-ion indicated as can he expected and with the best hope oi good results. We do not want the young idea to do what Mr Gilruth said it had dene lor many years, pass examinations with honours in subjects -about which it knew practically nothing. Another question of teaching was settled by the Lower House in passing the Bill for the Referendum n re Bible teaching. Most of tfie men said they were hostile to the thin? wanted, but- their respect for the Referendum prevented them from giving the people whatever they might ask for, even if it were prejudicial to the right of minorities, which in matters of conscience are indefeasible if respect is to be maintained for tiie great principle of religions liberty. The Council did not pass this measure before because it was mixed up with a proposal for the suicide of the Council. This year it is in a different case, because the Council is supposed to favour the referendum. The Council at all events is not disturbed bv responsibility to any constituents. We shall see what we shall sec.

The two Houses arc presenting the singular spectacle of each proposing Council reform in a separate measure. Sir William Steward carried his second reading in spite of the opposition of the Cabinet, which went into the lobby against him to a man. Ihe Council at the same time was listening respectfully to the speakers who were declaring the need for rciorm. The only logical man among them was Mr Carncross, who could not see the need for any reform and said so plainly. Ifc takled swisv, when he said that to give the Council a constituency will be to narrow the usefulness and freedom of the Council, which at present represents the whole colonv. As for the abuse of power by Which the Government appoints only its friends to vacancies what Government has ever put its enemies into the Upper House Either here or at St, Stephen's 7 However, the Lords threw out ihrir Bill and are sure to kick out the other. Poor Mr Hogg came to grief in his attack upon the Flour Trust through the flour duty. Much nonsense was talked during the debate, but in spile of the same there was a thing or two to be noted. For example, the Minister of Customs said that he sympathised with the candle industry, which was causing several members to Weep, but that lie sympathised a great deal more with the consumer who was benefiting to the extent of cheap light and plenty of it in consequence of the languishing candle industry. Next Wednesday we are to have the report of the Committee on the •Shops and Offices Bill, and much good may it do us all.