Parliament

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 96, 18 September 1914, Page 4

Parliament

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. THUBSDAY, SEPTEMBER IT. AFTERNOON SESSION. By Tolegraph.—Press Association. , Wellington, Last night. Iho Council met at 2,30 p.m. Hon. J. Duthie asked the Minister of Internal Afl'airs whether, while the nsa of Englisii words in the body of cables open to the censor may still be desirable, the use of registered cipher addresses by the established mercantile firms and companies might not now be permitted, and will th# Government make representation thereon to the British authorities! , Hon. H. D. Bell said the Government would take action, and would make representations to the Imperial Government. On the motion to go into committee upon the Limitation of Imprisonment for Debt Bill, Hon. Moore moved that the Bill be read this day sir months. Hon. Duthie supported the motion. Hon. C. Louisson saw no reason to alter the present law. Hon. 0. Samuel hoped the Council would not reject the Bill. Hod. (Paul said the Bill was a Himple one, and a logical continuation of the present law. ' The Bill was committed by 18 votes to 7, and reported from committee without material amendment. The Council rose at 3.7 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. AFTERNOON SESSION, The House met at 2.30 p.m. QUESTIONS. In reply to Mr. Hunter, the Minister for Defence said that an outbreak of strangles had occurred amongst the troop horses at Awapuni, but the outbreak was a slight one, and every step was being take to check it.' /In reply to Mr. Myers, the Premier stated that he would ask the High Commissioner to cable particulars of war risks being charged, and the information would be published, CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS. , Jhe Minister of Defence laid on the table of the House a paper containing the suggestions of local bodies as to how religious and conscientious objectors to military training could render alternative service. Mr. Russell pointed out that only 89 persons were setting up objection to military service on religious grounds. This was very satisfactory, but he noticed that very fevr local bodies had replied to the questions asked by the MinMany of the suggestions were utterly impracticable. He was pleased to see that as a result of the present crisis many of those who had previously been protesting were>now enlisting, and the war would remove a great deal of froth which was indulged in about our system of compulsory service. He was sorry the Minister had got so little out of the attempt to get local bodies to solve a difficult problem for him. Mr. Forbes contended that the Government should never have gone near the local bodies. They should have taken up a strong stand and settled the question themselves. Such a weak policy only encouraged the shuffler. Hon. Alien, in reply, said he did not think there was now much need to do anything- to meet the case of conscientious objectors, because they had practically disappeared as a result of the crisis. Nothing was being doiie to meet the ease of religious objectors. They were being let off, but that was not satisfactory. The House then went into committee on the Customs Amendment Bill, which was reported without amendment and read a third time and passed without debate.

THE ESTIMATES. Iho House went into Committee of Supply on the Estimates. The item, £13,454, on the clerical branch of the Education Department, was first considered. In reply to Mr. Russell, the Minister said he hoped to hare the Education Bill through committee in a few days. He was not in a position to say whether under the altered financial circumstances he would be able to carry out the increases of teachers' salaries as proposed in the Bill.

Mr. McCallum claimed that the right thing to do was to pass all tlio increases, but to give tlio Minister power to suspend them until he could see his way to bring them into operation, The Minister said he was obliged for the suggestion, and would consider it. Hon. D. Buddo advocated sending'officers abroad to pick up hints upon ad« ministration. The Minister said that had always been the policy of the Department, and would be continued. Mr. Hogben, the Inspector-General of Education, was retiring at an early date. The question of his succession had not been considered, but he hoped to get someone in the Dominion to fill his place. Sir Edward Gibbes, the Under-Secretary for Education, was also retiring, but he had arranged that both Sir Edward and Mr. Hogben should not go at the same time. The item passed. Elementary education, £757,165, was the next item. Mr. McCallum urged better pay for pupil teachers. The Minister replied that something | was being done in this direction this year. The Department could not undertake full responsibility for conveying country children to school, but were helping where they could. Additional capitation was being provided for school committees in the new Bill. The item passed.

The committee was considering the item, £98,425 for secondary and higher education, at the 5.30 adjournment.

PVJINING SESSION. On resuming at 7.3? p.m., the House continued tie discussion upon the Estimates. The. secondary and higher education vote of £98,425 passed at 8.30 Votes for Manual and Technical Instruction, Training College, Native Schools, and Infant Life Protection were passed withouj discussion. A long discussion took place upon the vote of £5138 - for the Otckailce Home for the Deaf, objection being taken to the non-erection of suitable buildings, the blame the delay being cast upon the Departmental officers. The chairman of the committee objected to the | line of argument, and the Speaker was called in to decide whether or not it was permissible to criticise or attack a departmental officer. The Speaker resumed the chair, and after hearing argument upon the point rained, reserved hd» ruling, 1 Discussion upon the vote 'was conitinwsd, and the itemi of £5138 passed. The Industrial Schools vote of £42,098 ipai&ed. The votes fox l sehool touild-

jogs, furniture, and sites, £I22JX. tmg for nrisceillaneoiie services, fl6J3i »e»' paused without debate, and th« total' vote of the dues, £1,5127,522, w«« agreed The State Advances aecomrt ol CSROi--299 was agreed to, after a brief £». tuesion. The LaJ>or Department rote of Qfljlf i«aaed with only a abort criticism fr<m the labor memoem. The -vote for the tiiate Forest Department, £31,54*2, was paused, and. tha. House rose at 1'&37 a.mi ■