HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2410, 20 December 1887, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

MONDAY. XllK House resumed atl’.iiO. p.m. in Committee on the education estimate'. Mr Fisher said the. lioverninent were v.illill" to abandon llie point of raisin" tie school age. to six if tile House would agree to the other three points. Mr Fish protested strongly against this He thought tliis was one of the pouils they should ; nsist on. Sir.fuiinr Vogel was at a loss to de-1 with the question, owing to the extraordinary attitude of the Mini.-trv. Lire, changes had practically he. n made by tie Itovcnunent without the authority of ih.House. It. was perfectly clear that tie Minister of Education Inis not the power to ttx the age of school children under the re "illations. If such a lari, e amount as DiO.OOO w ei ,- taken from the Education Hoard', it meant a reduction of 1.1 per cent from teacliei'. Why was not such a reduction made fr-oo civil servants generally? Mr Fisher said the negotiations that had taken place were evidently un-ausfactorv to both sides of the House, and lie would therefore ask the House to consider tin proposals as originally brought down. Mr Peacock was surprised at. Sir -I. Vogel's attitude, although lie expressed himself in favour of raising school ago, he still advised the committee for parly purposes P. reject it. He thought the amount propo-ed by Mr Fisher was snliicieiit for the education requirements of the Country, lie approved of the reduction of the capitation to £3 I.ls. and reduction of school age to six. He held that the Uoinan Catholic potion of the community were, entitled to reasonable assistance for their schools. Mr llarrou disagreed with the proposals ef the (ioverninent, and he deprecated such a large question being dealt with at the last stage of the session. Mr Seddon spoke on the whole question at great length, and opposed tile l.loveminent proposals. Mr W. P. lioeves moved to reduce the total vote by £l, to test the feeding of the committee on the question. Mr Fitzherbert supported the raising of the school age to six years, and the reduction of the capitation by }s. Mr Loiighrey said it was quite evident from the expression of opinion all over the Colony during the recent elections that the jieoplc would not submit to any alteration in the school age. He supported the reduction nf the capitation. Mr Walker hoped the Minister would carefully note all the arguments that had been advanced, and come down with more matured proposals next session. The debate was interrupted by the .1.30 adjournment. The committee resumed at 7.30. p.m. Mr Walker continued his remarks on the education vote. Mr Allen pointed out the minimum school age was higher in other countries than New Zealand. Ur. Fitchett thought the •loverninent had been premature in this matter, an 1 he urged that it should he allowed to stand over till next session. Mr Duncan would riot support the proposals unless all possible economy was first made in the system. Progress was reported at this stage. LASH HILL. The Legislative Council having insisted on the amendments of this Dill the Minister of Lauds moved that the amendments hj i disagreed with, and that Messrs .}. McKenzie, Deeth.im and the mover be malingers to represent tb a House in a free conference. Carried. KirtTATiox \<m:. The consideration of the education vote was rcsiiai- d. Dr. Newman disapproved of the proposals generally, holding that money could lie saved from the Library Fund, and from higher education. Mr O'Callaghan opposed the pr.ijmsal. Mr Duds.ui supported the proposals, and Mr Levestam opposed them. Mr Orimmond expressed his intention . f voting against the proposals. ill-Steward supported raising the school age and reducing the capit ition to £o 11s. il-.-ff sitting!.