PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 187, 7 September 1871, Page 6

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

(From, the "Daily Times" Telegrams.)

Wellington, August 30bh.

The Private Petitions Committee have recommended that Mr. Smythies be heard at the bar of the House on his own case.

The Private Bills Committee have decided that the North Dunedin Cemetery Bill must be treated as a private Bill This shelves it.

Sir David Monro asked the Tele graph Commissioner whether the telegraph had been used without payment by any member of the Government, or any other person authorised by the Government, with a view to influencing the Motueka election.

Mr. Yogel refused to answer, on the ground that his. doing so in his capacity of Telegraph Commissioner would amount to a betrayal of the secrecy- of the department. He said that Mr. Scwell had not used the wires for any such purpose, and advised Sir David to ask each member of the Ministry individually whether he had done so.

Several petitions in favour of a Permissive Bill were presented to-day. Mr. Fox intimated his intention of bringing the question of the desirability of introducing such a Bill under the consideration of the Cabinet shortly.

At the suggestion of the Government, Mr. O'Neill's motion for the redaction of the duty was adjourned till after the delivery of the Finanaial Statement.

A motion by Mr. Gillies in favour of accepting the verdict of two-thirds of a jury in civil cases, was carried on the voices after a short debate.

The second reading of the Deceased Wife's Sister Marriages Bill was earned in the Legislative Council by a majority of one.

August 31st. Mr. Collins asked whether the sum of £50,000 was obtained from the Controller, for the ostensible purpose of paying off the debentures falling due during the last financial year, whether the money had been applied for the purposes for which it was issued, and, if so, w'uen, or whether it had been applied to other purposes. Mr. Yogel, in reply admitted that the Treasury bills, due on the 3lst October, and held by the Trust Fund, had not been paid, it being inconvenient to do so, and that the Government had applied the money to other purposes. The opinion of the Controller did not coincide with that of the Attorney-General regarding the transaction.

Mr. Collins characterised the transaction as financial thimblerig, and moved that Mr. Vogel's reply be entered in the journals of the House. Mr. Reader Wood said the transaction showed how inefficient the system of control was, and how impossible it would be for the Government to carry on the business of the colony if the system was inefficient. He hoped the House would sec the absurdity of the system, and save its expense. Mr. Yogel said the Government were opposed to the motion. Nearly the whole of the Controller's time was spent in disputes with the Government, which were very unpleasant, though conducted courteously and in the most conscientious spirit by the Controller. That gentleman was enthusiastic in the discharge of his duties, but in regard to tha pi esent transaction he had acted as if with a deliberate intention to injure the creJit of the colony. The Government would bring t'le whole question of the present system of con trol under the notice of the House.

M.*. Gillies said that the system of control was no protection against an unscrupulous Government, but that it was against honourable man who would apply moneys only to" the objects for which they were ostensibly obtained from the Controller. It was improper of the Government to speak as they had done of a high ofhVial who was unable to defend himself.

Mi*. Gisborne said that it was the custom of the previous Government to draw money for one obejet and apply it to another, but that he did not defend the practice.

Mr. Stafford denied any knowledge of any such practice having been followed by his" Government.

Mr. Hall defended the usefulness of the Controller, although he admitted that the .system of control was not perfect. He admitted that the previous Government had once, uuder peculiar circumstances, acted to a small extent as Mr. Gisbornp had said, but at the earliest opportunity they had informed the House of the transaction.

Mr. Reid condemned the action of the Government as moßt discreditable.

After some further debate, the motion was withdrawn.

Mr. Reid asked the Minister for Public Woi'ks whether it was true that during the recent general election he had forwarded " exprevss instructions " to Mr. Calcut, Clerk to the Bench in Duuedin, requesting him '' to draw attention to the fact that by erroneous statements Mr. Reid is doing his best to obstruct the opening of the Southern Trunk Railway, and damage the province." Also, whether it is part of the duty of the Minister of Public Works to explain to the electors his opinion as to the actions and intentions of those who are candidates for election, A third, question relative to the same

subject the Speaker refused to allow to appear on the Order Paper, as containing improper insinuations against a Minister of the Crown.

Mr. Gisborne, in replying, entered into a long story about the Clutha Railway, admitting that he had sent the instructions referred to, and justifying his doing so. In reply to the second question he said that when a Minister entrusted with the carrying out of a great national work found candidates for Provincial offices v.ttering erroneous statements affecting those works, it was his duty to con° tradict those statements and point out their tendency.

Mr. Reid denied the accuracy of Mr. G-isborne's account of the Clutha Railway negotiations.

In reply to Mr. Steward, Mr. Gisborne stated that the girders for the Waitaki bridge were now on their way from England. The plans were being prepared, and tenders wouid be called for in the course of a few weeks.

Mr, Stafford has given notice of motion for the appointment of a Select Committee to enquire into the administration and management of the Telegraph Department.

Mr. O'Neill's motion for the reduction of miners' rights to 10a. each, was referred to the Goldfields Committee.

A smart shock of earthquake was experienced here this morning at four minutes past two.

September Ist. Mr. Fox moved the second reading of the Education Bill last night in an excellent speech of an hour and a quarter's duration. Pie said the Government had done their best in preparing this measure, and they were prepared to accept any amendments cilcnlated to improve the Bill. They had closely, but not servilely, adhered to the resolutions passed on Mr. Richmond's motion last session, and had found such uniformity in the main provisions of the existing Provincial Ordinances, that the Bill was little more than a consolidation thereof. The Government would not object to each province keeping its present form of Education Board, nor to the introduction of the English cumulative vote system into the election of the local Committees. The form of education provided was religious, but not sectarian. The conscience clause was similar to, but more liberal than, that in Mi*. Foster's Act. Compulsory education was absolutily neo-e^sary, eveu in Otago. Only half the educable children in the Colony were being educated. The Government were unJer obligations in this matter to Mr. Bell, who first brought the subject under the notice of the House ; to Mr. Richmond, who took first practical step, by obtaining the instruction of the House to the Government to prepare the Bill ; and to Mr. Hislop,~who had laboured day and night in preparing the Bill. In conclusion, he reminded the House that education was only one step towards social reform, and was of little use by itself. Ofcago, with 96 schools, had 696 public houses, and Canterbury with G3 schools, had 234 public houses. There was little use in establishing so many schools for youths, while so many schools of vice existed.

Mr. Curtis said that he generally approved of the principle of the Bill, but that in Committee he would move several amendments to assimilate it more to the Nelson Ordinance. Pie objected to the Education Board being elected by the Provincial Council, as it was desirable to eliminate all the political element from such a body. He would prefer that it should be composed of representatives elected by the District Committees. He objected to a property rate, preferring a household rate. The decision to be made with regard to taxation was more properly the function of the Provincial Council. All these schools should be free. He objected to the proposed subsidising of the Aided Schools. He preferred the Nelson plan, by which any 25 persons, at their request, might be formed into a separate district, and allowed to establish a school of tbeir own under the same regulations as the other schools, except that the Committee were allowed to select their own books, subject to the approval of the General Board. He saw no sufficient machinery provided in the Bill for enforcing the attendance of children at school. The Nelson plan of charging a rate of 5s for every child, whether attending school or nor, was a mild system of compulsory education, and was working satisfactorily. The whole education funds of a province should be raised and distributed by the Central Board, and not by the" Committees, and the Board should also fix the teachers' salaries.

Mr. Tribe objected to the machinery of the Bill as being unnecessarily complicated.

Mr. Bath gate warmly approved of the Bill, but it contained one great flaw — the Aided Schools clauses. These clauses introduced the denominational system, which had failed in England after 25 years' trial. Rather than see such a system adopted, he would prefer a purely secular system, without even the reading of the Bible in school. Otago would think it very hard to have any but a national system of education thrust upon it, to spoil its present system, which worked admirably. He urged a variety of reasons against the adoption of the Aicjed Schools clauses, an 4 expressed

his preference for a property rate to a household, one.

Mr. Stewart thought a spirit of fairness ran through the Bill, and he would give his hearty support to its maiu principles. He opposed a denominational and supported a purely secular system. Military training should be provided for. Teachers should have a representative at the Central Board. The debate was adjourned.