PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 135, 16 September 1910, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. DEBT EXTINCTION BILL. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. In the Legislative Council this afternoon, the Roman Catholic Archbishop ot Wellington Bill was passed. The Hon. Mr. Loughnan resumed the debate on the Public Debt Extinction Bill, and expressed his approval of the measure. He advocated a gradual tapering off in borrowing.

The Hon. Mr. Jenkinson criticised the Bill at some length, and said it appeared to him that the fund would require, more assistance than the Bill proposed to give. The Bill, as a whole, was the most inconsistent and ill-devised ever put before the Council. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. EDUCATION - MATTERS. The Selwyn County Sub-division Bill (Mr. Witty) was read a first time. The House went into* committee on the Education Amendment Bill. At clause 3 Mr. Fowlds isaid he would insert a proviso to enable payment of expenses to be made in cases where members of the Education Board used their own vehicles in travelling to and from board meetings. Also to substitute the word "visit" for "inspection." In sub-clause 3, Mr. Massey suggested that members of the Education Board should be put on the same footing as •members of the Land Boards and be paid for their services. Mr. Wallace advocated adding a proviso providing a payment of 10s a day for each attendance for board meetings. Mr. Fowlds pointed out that this would require an appropriation clause.

On a division, the clause, as amended, was passed. At clause 7 (which provides for the medical and physical inspection of school children) the Minister stated that the regulations would probably not be ready for presentation to Parliament this session. It was intended that teachers should be instructed at training colleges, so that they would be able to discover defects in children, such as eye and throat diseases, deafness and adenoids. If they considered medical attention was necessary, there was power under the Public Health Act to obtain it. In the House of Representatives this evening, at clause 8, which provides for the compulsory attendance of school children under 14- on every school day, Mr. Pearce moved as an amendment that the clause should only apply to schools in the boroughs. Mr. Herdman, in supporting the amendment, said the education system was running mad. The clause would interfere with' industrial life. Mr. Fowlds said he was'surprised to hear Mr v Herdman's speech. The Dominion was only following the example of every other country. How coulo. the compulsory attendance of children under 14* interfere with industrial life? • Mr. McLaren upheld the compulsory attendance in the interests of the children. On a division the clause was retained by 30 to 28. .Clause 9, which repeals sub-clause 2 of section 150 of the principal Act, allowing the exemption. from attendance oi children holding certificates, raised considerable opposition, Mi". Massey warning the Minister that the passing of the clause would result in serious trouble, but he washed his hands of all responsibility. Mr. Russell strongly opposed the clause, which would prevent children under 14 years of age from going to work even if they complied with the regulations. Mr. Fowlds said the Education Conference had decided in favour of th'e principle contained in the clause. It was not desirable that children should be dragged from schools and put- to work before the age of 14. At clause 17, providing for compulsory providing for compulsory attendance at technical schools, Mr, Malao-.<a eu'cred a protest against the conjmUory principle, which was ua > j-entiiic. It " w;is based' on the idea that all young people possessed like "minds and. capacities. Mr. Allen moved that the word "permitting" be substituted for "requiring" in the clause, so as to make attendance at classes permissive, instead of compulsory. Mr. Thomson (Dunedin) opposed the amendment. Technical education was an urgent need if the Dominion was to keep ajbreast of other countries. Mr. Malcolm favored the voluntary system. All men were not' cast in- the same mold, and could not receive .benefits from education, which, in many cases, paralysed the power of action. After a further discussion the amendment was put and negatived by 35 to 28. ■ , Qn the motion of the Minister, sub-' clause 5, clause 17, was amended by adding the definition of hours of employment, which have the effect of making these identical with the hours fixed by the industrial award, or, in the absence of such, the usual hours observed in the trad« followed by young persons.