PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4892, 13 September 1884, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

[By Telegbaph.] (feom oue own cobeespondent.) Wellington, Last night. The Cost of Education. The question of the cost of our education system is one constantly brought before the public, and most people are of opinion that we in New Zealand are far more extravagant in this direction than our neighbors. From n comparative return presented to the House yesterday, however, it will be seen that New Zealand occupies a very good position. The return shows that 'in the year 1883 the expense per scholar in New Zealand, calculated on the mean of the roll numbers at the end of the four quarters, was £3 4s 6d, exclusive of the cost of school buildings, or inclusive of this, £4> 3s 2f d per head ; the annual expenses of free training institutions are included in this, as is also the amount spent by the General Assembly for scholarships ; although that should scarcely be charged against primary education. In England in 1882-3 the cost per scholar was for maintenance £2 3s 9^d, while the New Zealand cost for the same purposes was £3 14s 9fd, or an ex» cess over the English cost of £1 11bOld; a note points out that this is partly caused by the maintenance of schools in sparcely populated districts, but which must be maintained in order to bring education within the reach of the settlers generally. In Queensland the average cost per scholar is £4 3s o£d, or with buildings £5 7s 8-Jd; in New South Wales it is £4 ss, or with buildings £615s 9£d per head ; in Victoria the amounts are £4 8s lOd and £5 3s 2d respectively; and in South Australia they are £4 4s 4|d and £4 19s 3fd; while in New Zealand, for precisely the same results, the figures are £4 3s 6^d and £5 5s 3d. In New tfork State the cost of instruction is £3 18s per head ; in Massachusetts, £4 6s 2d, and in California £5 5s 3d.

A caucus of the Wellington and Napier members has been held. There were present Messrs Ormond, Smith, Beetham, Bryce, Fitzherbert, Johnson, Mac Arthur, Newman, and Wilson. With reference to the deputation to the Governs raent as to the pushing on of the Napier and Wellington line, it was decided to postpone the interview with the Government bill after the financial statement. A fresh meeting will be held next Wednesday, at the same hour. The Working Man's Wages Bill (Mr Cadman) gives any workman whose wages are overdue for 24 hours power to obtain from any Justice of the Peace a summons against his employer, and at the same time or any time thereafter the Justice may issue a notice for the attachment for any monies in the hands of any employer. No such order is to be more than 60 day's wages, however ; or if the work has been done on any moveable chattel, on which the workman could establish a lien by retaining possession, when the workman obtains judgment against his employer, the court may order the payment to him of money attached, and the person in possession of such money must pay the amount to the workmen in order of priority of notice. Notices within 7 days are deemed simultaneous, and no person is liable to more money than he owes to the employer of the claimants. Persons furnishing materials for work are to have the same redress as workmen, but only after the claims for wages not exceeding 21 days are satisfied. Nothing in the Bill is to affect other remedies or vary rights between parties. The Bill repeals the Contractors Debts Act, 1871.