PARLIAMENT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 138, 23 March 1935, Page 3

PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. EDUCATION ACT AMENDMENT. (Abridged from Press Association.) WELLINGTON, March 22. In the House of Representatives today Mr A, S. Richards (Labour, 11 oskill) asked the Prime Minister whether he would issue instructions to Government officers at Samoa that positions there should be filled by Europeans or else halfcaste or full-blooded Samoans. At present, he said, certain positions were being filled by Chinese and coolie labour, who were paid only £3 a month while many Europeans and Samoans were in dire distress.

Mr Forbes said he would have the position investigated. The Education Act Amendment Bill was introduced. The Hon. S. G. Smith said the Bill was a short one of nine clauses. He said some education boards hadi been spending money for the maintenance of school buildings and on. school grounds and a doubt had arisen if they had the legal power to do so. The Bill gave them power to spend 5 per cent, of the maintenance grant on grounds. It also extended the powers of Education Boards to terminate the engagement of married women whose husbands were in a position to maintain them. To Technical School and High School Boards it also provided that when schools were reduced in grade, overscale teachers may be retained m the present position for two years, instead of one year, as. previously. It also altered the constitution of the Timaru High Schools Board. The Bill was read a first time.