PARLIAMENTARY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 145, 20 June 1891, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY.

(EZ TELEGRAPH. —OWN KEPOBTKR,)

WiSLijiXGTOir, this day.

SCHOOL QUARTER-MONEY, The Minister for Education informed Mr T. Thompson that he has been awaro for soma time of the dissatisfaction that exists throughout the colony becaus-o of the imposition of what is known as quarter-money in tho public schools. He has no doubt that) this chargo is improper and ultra vires. The Education Act, he says, gives to School Committees tho power to demand that children shall be provided wibh school books, and it is a matter for consideration whether poor pcoplo should bo compelled to provido their children with books. Ihe Minister advises that if the Boards will not stop the practice of collecting qnarterinoney, parents in different district should take action in the matter, and, failing the realisation of the desired result, Parliament should take the matter up. PROPOSED VANCOUVER SERVICE, The Government have received no communication whatever, either from the Canadian Government or tho Pacific Mail ' Company, relative to the proposed ocean mail services botweeu British Columbia and Australasia. Tha Postmaster - General thinks it is possible that owing to the death of Bryce Douglas, who was instrumental in projecting this service, the project has received a severe check; and the Agent-General has expressed the opinion that it will be a long time before we hear anything; deliuite of any further etepe being taken in tho matter. RECIPROCAL TARIFF TREATIES. It was the intention of the GovernorGeneral of Canada that a convention should be held to discuss the question of a reciprocal bariff between the Dominion of Canada and tho colonies of Australasia, but that convention was postponed owing to the Federal Convention taking place. Ihe Fon. Mr Bailance now says that if the resolutions pa*aed by that convention are <riven effect to, the Australasian Governments will be in a position to establish reciprocal rolations without any extra convention being held. There is, therefore, mo likelihood of the Tariff Convention being held until the larger question of federation is decided. MANAWATU RAILWAY. The manner in which the Governmen railways acts as feeders to tho Wellington Manawatu railway is constantly being urged insido and outside of tho House as reasons why the lines should ba taken over by the Government. Some years ago negotiations wore entered into bstween the Company and tho Government with a view to the purchase of the line. Tho Company then refused tho olior made and Lave not communicated with the Government, in fact, they are at the present time disposed to sell tboir property. This was the reply given to Mr La wry, and is latheranevaeionof hisquestion as to whether the Government will themselves move in the matter. POSTAL AND TELEPHONE CHARGES. Mr Palmer has been informed by the Postmaster-General that it is the intention of the Government to introduce a penny post on the lat of October nexb, and upon the same day the reduction of tho telephone charge will come into operation. Thero is a great deal of difficulty in tho way of giving effect to Mr Palmer's suggestion -fco bring the reduced postal reductions into force between Auckland and Devonport at an earlier date, and Mr Ward has decided that they must come into force throughout tha colony on the same day. Amongst other xeJorms adopted by Mr Ward ib has been decided that in future the scale of fees for speakiug through tho telephono by BByone out of town shall be made uniform throughout the colony. Tho telegraph offices now open on Sunday mornings will "ba closed at such time from July Ist, "but they will continue open on Sunday evenings, aa at present. Arrangements are being made that in cases of sickness officers will attend on Sundays. This will affect about thirty offices, only the smaller country stations being now closed on Sundays. The Postmaster - General is of opinion that the salary now paid to the telegraph messengers, viz., £25 por year, is rather inadequate, and tho House will be fcsked to provide £5 yearly additional for each messenger as a contribution towards providing: the lads with clothes. THE FLAX INDUSTRY. The late Government promised to grant a substantial bonus for the encouragement of the flax industry, chiefly in tho direction of providing a superior claes of machinery to that now in use, and the Local Industries Committee of the first 1890 session made a series of recommendations which Ministers promised to take ud. The present Government have now bsen approached with a view to their carrying , out the promises made by their predecessors, and they are making inquiries, the result of which will .shortly be placed before thelloueeandeome decision arrived at. Interesting to railway employees. The desirability of having wages lists pasted in all offices under the control of the .liailway Commissioners, co that their employees may know what rate of wages they are entitled to, as suggested by _Mr Thompson, has been taken np by the Minister for Public Works. Mr Seddon aays he doss not wish to in any way trench upon thefunctions of tbe Railway Commissioners, but he regards the suggestion made to be very proper, and undertakes on behalf of the Government to move in the direction indicated. COST OF NATIVE SCHOOLS. Some correspondence recently took place t between the Government and tho Educa- ) tion Boards of the colony with the view of : having control of the native schools placed * under the Boards. Mr Thompson has represented to the Minister for Education, that v a very strong feeling exists in Auckland; 'that in the interests of the natives them- ' selves their schools should be placed under ■the control of a district board. In response ■j-tothisappealMrlleeves has pointed out that Mt was no small difficulty that bad been experienced in giving effect to this proposal. <■ in tue first) place, thero is the question of Ab present the education of children costs £5 16s on the actual iattendance, whiletheEducation Boards have jasked £ 5 per head for the number an /the roll, a number which is equal to £7 7s vior actual attendance, or about 3s more per .Lead than the present cost to tbe Gorernt ment. The Minister fears, moreover, that kthe natives themselves will object to the proposed transfer of control.bein'gevidently ■under the impression that the result would be to make the schools less exclusively .native schoo'a than at the present time. The Minister, however, is strongly in favour of transferring che control of these schools to the local boards, and further efforts will be made to arrange term. , ?. CRIMINAL CODE BILL. _ This measure, which was read a second time in the Legislative Council yesterday afternoon, is almost identical with tho Bill introduced in the previous session by the Attorney-General. It seeks to do away with the absurdities and anomalies of tho existing laws and the jargon of criminal law courts, which could nob bo understood by either bench or bar. One of the provisions if the Bill, if carried into effect, will sweep away tho absurd distinctions now existing S3 between felony and misdemeanour.