POLITICAL NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 140, 31 October 1912, Page 8

POLITICAL NOTES.

UNIVERSITY EDUCATION,

By Telegraph—Own Correspondent. Wellington, Last Night. Replying to Mr. Bell in the House of Representatives this afternoon, the Minister of Education (Hon. J. Allen) said: "A petition presented to the House last year asking for a Royal Commission on University education was referred to the Education Committee which, after taking evidence, made certain recommendations. One of the recommendations was that the Inspector-General of Schoolshould make enquiry into the needs and revenues of the four university colleges. This was done, and the Inspector-Gen-eral's report was referred to the Education Committee only last week. The reI port has since come hack from the com- ! mittee with the recommendation that, as the time at their disposal was inadequate .to deal with it, consideration of the report should be held over until the commencement of next session. Under [these circumstances nothing further can jbe done in the matter until next year."

PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE ENQUIRY.

The Hon. Mr. Herdman informed Mr. Eseott in the House of Representatives this afternoon that the Government will arrange to hold an enquiry into the affairs of the Public Trust Office as soon as the session is over. NURSES TOR THE BACKBLOCKS. In reply to a question in Parliament by Mr. Statham this afternoon, the Hon R. 11. Rhodes said the question of encouraging midwives to practice in the backblocks has been the subject of considerable consideration on the part of the Department, and hospital boards have been advised that free training will be given in our St. Helen's hospitals to those women specially recommended by the boards as likely to make suitable midwives, provided they undertake on completion of their training to serve for a stated period in the more remote country districts.

It is considered that this policy is a better one than to insist on a six months' extension of the period of training for midwives. which is now for registered nurses six months, and for unregistered nurses twelve months. Tf an additional six months' course were insisted upon it might have the effect of deterring many excellent women, trained or untrained, from undertaking the work and thus might result in a shortage of midwives for the Dominion.

I ORDER OF BUSINESS. . In the course of a debate in the House this afternoon Mr. G. W. Russell expressed the opinion that the session should be wound up as speedily as possible. The Opposition had no desire to block the proceedings, ixnd if the Government made up its mind that the session should end by Saturday or Monday the Opposition would not put any obstacles in its way. They realised 'that the Government Oiad a majority, and should be given an opportunity of carrying through the whole of its legislative 'programme. Mr. Witty urged that the Government should state which measure it intended to put through. The Opposition desired to facilitate the work as much as possible. ■

Mr. Ell urged that the Government should not drop the Bills now before the Labor Bills Committee.

1 A'; r '. sa 'd ' le an{ l those associated ' with him were prepared to stay in Wellington for a month or three months in order to put necessary legislation on ;the statute Book. Even at tihis late sta»e it was advisable that they should introduce a Bill amending the Arbitration Act. They should spend a day in discussing the report of the Cost of Livino Commission, with the object of down legislation next session. ° ° The Hon. R. McKenzie objected to rushing business, even though they had to spend a few extra days in Wellington. °

Sir Joseph Ward said that in rnshin" business through at the end of the session when members got "the fever," the Prime Minister would find it difficult to keep them here.

The Prime Minister said he thought the time occupied in the discussion would nave been bettor spent in putting two or .throe Rills through their final stages. The session would come to an end when the business on the Order Paper had been dealt with. There would be a Loan Bill, and he proposed to go I on with the debate on the Public Works 'Statement on Friday. Then there were to be an Education Bill, an amendment to the State Guaranteed Advances Act, and a Kail ways Authorisation Bill, He understood that the Counties Bill was not to be gone on with. The Barmaids Re"--istration Bill would be placed on the statute Book.