HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3019, 18 October 1878, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

AFTEENOON SITTING.

WELLINGTON,

Thursday/

Mr Swanson*asked the Native Minister whether the Government will give effect to the recommendation of the Public I Petitions Committee in the, case of S. J. Edmonds. . . The Native Minister replied that the report of the Committee would receive fair consideration. The Government would consider,, during recess, whether they could carry out its recommendations and state their intentions next session. ■ HIGH SCHOOL FOB THE THAMES. In the House to-day Sir George Grey gave notice of a bill to establish a High School at the Thames. PUBLIC DEBTS SINKING FUND. The Treasurer gave notice of a bill to amend the Public Debts Sinking Funds Act. , ADULTEBATION OF LIQUOBB. Mr Beeves gave notice to ask the ■ Government if they will, during the recess, prepare a bill, for the more effec,tual prevention of ad'il Iteration of, liquors, 'and the punishment of Tendon of the fsame. THE GOLDFIELDS COMMITTEE. On the motion of Mr Curtis, > the quorum of the Goldfields. Committee was 'reduced to three. ' The report of the Goldfields Committee on the Goldmining Districts Amendment Act recommended that the bill be passed, and it was.accordinglyordered to be committed on. Friday. . The Premier laid on the table the returns respecting the Friendly Societies and the funds at their disposal.' 1 ' THE ADJOURNMENT^ . Mr Feldwick asked, without notice, whether the Government proposed that the House shall sit on Saturday, in order to enable Southern' members to proceed to their homes by steamer on Monday.' The Premier replied that the GovernV xnent would consider the question,. MUNICIPAL COBPOBATIONS ACT. Mr Murray asked, without notice, whether the Government intend to proceed this session with the Muaicipal Cor* porations Act Amendment Bill. The Attorney-General replied in the affirmative. HIGH SCHOOLS. A message, was received from the Governor recommending the , House to insert in the High Sohool Bills a clause providing that all high schools shall be subject to inspection by the inspecting officer appointed by the Minister of Education. A motion was made and agreed to that the House concur in the recommendation. WAITAKI LANDS. Taiaroa asked the Government what course they intend to pursue in reference to occupation by certain natives of lands at Waitaki in the Middle Island. ' The Native Minister replied that two or three years ago certain natives took up ground on tbe runs of R. Campbell and others. • The natives said their object was to test their claim to the land, and nothing was done in Uh<»: matter. The claim had since; fceeri renewed/ but the chiefs of, the tribe were now in Welling-, ton, and would be consulted, but the natives would be compelled to obey the law. '. : . . ?■ '■;, ■ { .;■ ■ ;^p NATIVE ; Mr Barff asked without notice whether there was any foundation for the rumours in circulation that the natives have com* mitted another murder on the Waimate plains. .. -„ .- : .. : .v r „/..;■ : ,,, r .,, >■ /•• ; The Native Minister replied that there is no foundation for the report. A..party of the Ngarauru tribe went up to Pariaka in- searchofHiroki, andsome oTiffiem were violently assaulted by the Pariaka people, who seized their horses. It would not be desirable to. state, what were the intentions of the Government,; but immediately after the session he would visit the West Coast and endeavour to show the natives there-they: could not set the law at defiance. Te Whiti had not participated in the quarrel. ' _ •<;,:;' THE EDUCATION BILL. The.'House resumed the debate on t,he: second reading of the Education Act Amendment Bill; Hr ; r — Dr Wallis said he would support the bill; because it proposed to render education entirely of ah unsectafian character, and because it did not favour the Roman Catholics or any other denomination. The bill only asked to allow denominations to relieve.the State of the cost of erecting schools. In the early ages almost the only educators of the people were Catholic churches, and-since then Protestantism had taken up the. work in the north and west. The present bill proposed to enable the churches to become auxiliaries of the State in education. He condemned the p/esent .State system of education, which tended to prevent the individual efforts of parents, and to do away with the collateral advantages which accompanied such self-sacrifice. State education tended to Communism and reliance on the out door relief system. He contended that it was not unreasonable that people should claim to educate their children in a knowledge of religion. Mr Joyce supported the bill, arguing, that it is not designed to favour Roman Catholics, and that the existing state system by insisting upon uniformity destroys emulation and fossilises teachers.

c.ouraa;e;li,bertyi eqaiility, and fraternity in the highest sense of these words. The question was put that. the bill be read a second time. Ayes, 32 ; Noes, 38. The result was received with cheers. The following is the division lis,t:— Ayes. IT A 1 kin son, Bailment, BarfFj JVC. Brown, Bunny, Curtis (teller), DeLatour, Dignan, Douglas, Feldwiek, Gibbs, Gisborne, Henry, Hurst house, Johnstons, Joyce. Kenny, Manders, McMinn, Murray-Aynsley, O'Eorke, Pyke (teller)* Beeves, Russell, Sharp, Sutfcon, Tawiti, Tole, Turnbull, Wallis, Wood Woolcock. Noes, 38 : Ballance, Beethatn; Bowen, Erown J. E., Bryce, Cutten, Fisher, 'George, Green (teller), Hamlin, Hislop, Hodgkinson, Hunter, Kelly, Macandrew, Macfarlane, McLean, Montgomery, Moorhouse, Moss, Murray, Nahe, Oliver, Richardson, Holies ton, Howe, Saunders, Sheehan, Shrimski, Stevens, Stout, Swanson, Taiaroa, Takamoana, Teschemaker, Thomson (teller), Wason, WiU Hams. Pairs—For, F. Driver, Richmond, and Seymour. Against, Fitzroy, Whitaker and Bees. On the question that the Bill be read a second time, Mr Barff said the division showed that the Government would have to consider daring the recess the advisability of amending the present system of education^and no Government which did not deal with the question could hope to hold its place on the Ministerial benches. The motion that the bill be read a secoud time this day six months was then put and agreed to on the voices. THE HAB3OU<B3 BILL; The Hon. Mr Stout moved the second reading of the Harbours Bill. Mr Tole said the period allowed for leasing in the bill would operate hardly in respect to Auckland. , Mr, Brown (J. E.) said the bill would place too much power in the hands of the Harbor Boards, virtually giving them control of the railways. Therefore. he hoped the Government would withdraw the bill and re-consider the matter during the recess, and bring down a better ! measure next session. Dr Hodgkinson hoped the Government would withdraw the bill. Me Bryce hoped it would be proceeded with. Mr Woolcock trusted the measure would be proceeded with, even if the session were prolonged. > Mr Swanson urged that the bill be proceeded with, as he had received important suggestions respecting it, and the Boards throughout the colony regarded it with interest. The second reading was agreed to on 'the voices. IN COMMITTEE—-THE SHEEP BILL. ', The House went into Committee on the Sheep Bill and the Lyttelton Waterworks Transfer Bill. [ Dr Hodgkinson, in order'to shelve the Sheep Bill, moved that the, Chairman leave tbe chair. : The House divided: AyeSj 24; noes, , The amendment was negatived. Clause 3 was postponed. On clause 4 Dr Hodgkinson moved an amendment 'to shelve the clause, which was negatived by 48 to 12.' An amendment was inserted leaving the definition of the districts in the hands of the Governor. - Fenced or enclosed paddocks were included in the clause defining the runs. ' The House was still in committed on the bill at the half-past five adjournment, j