PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 193, 24 November 1910, Page 4

PARLIAMENT

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. In the Legislative Council this afternoon the Dentists Amendment Act was. put through its final stages. The Auctioneers Amendment Bill and the Scenery Preservation Bill were read a second time without discussion. On the motion for the committal of the Education Amendment Bill, the Hon. Jenkinson contended that the State was throwing away thousands a year on socalled technical education, which was not going to give the return hoped for. He would like to see Parliament take some steps to ensure better results.

The Hon. Anstey did not consider a reasonable return was reaped for the expenditure on the education system. The whole question wouljl sooner or later have to be reviewed to ascertain whether the right lines wert being pursued. He condemned the provision lor compulsory attendance at schools all through the week. He deprecated the attempt to cram children with seientiflo knowledge which they could not assimilate.

The Hon. Barr advocated the appointment of a Royal Commission to make a thorough review of the system.

Dr. Findhvy, in his reply j defended the education system, the expenditure on which did not deserve the general condemnation. Much of- the increase of cost was owing to the fact that facili-' tie® were now given- for the children of working people to take advantage of secondary education. Salaries of teachers had' also been increased. The main reason why the system was not producing better results was the apathy od parents, who got the advantages too lightly and did not value them.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

Wellington,, Yesterday. Ia the House, after 2 a.m., on demotion for the third reading of the Shops and Offices Bill, Mr. McLaren moved to recommit the Bill with the object of considering clause 7. The motion was defeated by 80 to 15, and the Bill passed. The following Bills passed the final stages: Hospitals and Charitable Institutions, Stamp Duties: Amendments, Slaughtering and Inspection, Hawke's Bay Rivers, Crown Suite Amendment, Census and Statistics, Poukawa Native Reserve, Dwellings. The House rose at 2.20 a.m. YESTERDAY'S BUSINESS.

Wellington, Last Night. The House met at 2.30 p.m. The Ohinemuri Silting Bill was introduced by Governor's Message. Replying to questions, Ministers stated

That it is not at present intended to amend the terms on which the bonus of 3d per gallon to encourage the production of kerosene oil was offered in the Gazette on November 10.

That enquiries are being made into the allegations made in an article published in a Cliristchurch paper in regard to the state of affairs at the State coal mine, and if these are found to have any foundation in fact the matter will be dealt with at an early date., That the Government is unaware how the misleading statements in regard to emigration of lads from England to New Zealand came to be circulated. The High Commissioner will be asked, if he has not already done so, to have the misstatements contradicted.

The Premier moved that the whole of the amendments of the Legislative Council in the Gaming Bill be disagreed with. This was the most expeditious method of meeting the difficulties that had arisen. He moved that Messrs. Hemes, Laurenson, and himself be appointed a conference to draw up reasons for disagreeing with the amendments.

The motion was agTeed to. The Westland and Nelson Native Reserves Amendment Bill was read a second time pro forma.

The House rose at 5.30 p.m. Li' the House this; evening the Legislature Amendment Bill was taken in committee.

Mr. Fisher moved to amend clause 2 (which consequential amendments in the principal Act), by providing for the repeal of the Second Ballot Act.

On a division the amendment was lost by 38 to 27.

Mr. Malcolm objected to clause 5, providing that an electoral census may be taken of persons qualified to be enrolled who are not on the roll. He moved that the clause be struck out. Sir Joseph Ward said the system proposed in the clause resulted' in larger polls, as shown by the heavy poll of 1905, when 83.25 per cent., of the electors recorded their, votes. In 1008, when the census was not taken, the percentage fell to 79 per cent. At clause 8, which provides that applications for enrolment by naturalised British subjects shall be verified by reference to records, Mr. Guinness moved an amendment requiring the production of letters of naturalisation. The amendment was lost on the casting vote of the chairman.

The House divided on a motion by Mr. Massey to strike out clause 34, which provides that a scrutineer may no% leave the polling booth during the hours of poling, without the permission of the deputy-returning officer, and the clause was retained by 46 to 33.