PARLIAMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 239, 13 October 1906, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. {By Tele_raph.--P_rl!a_e_tary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Friday. The House to-day considered the Education Department vote of £783,204, which was discussed in a general fashion at great length, as reported elsewhere, the clauses being agreed to without amendment, as follows:—Head office, £8609; public schools, £538,611; secondary education, £45,075; technical instruction, £33,965; public school cadets, £6085; Native schools, £21.755; industrial schools, £25,074; school for deaf mutes, £4154; school for blind,'£73l; mscellaneous services, £12,935; school buildings, furnitnre and sites, £86.650; total £783,204. Replying to Auckland members, the Minister for Education said that £3000 per annum was paid in salaries for the Auckland Training College, besides allowances for students attending the classes. He fully realised the importance of making some improvement in regard to the classification of schools for the purpose of salaries, if an improvement could be made without interfering with local control. PUBLIC HEALTH. The vote passed for Public Health Department was £25,372. In reply to several members, the Minister said he did not think it would be wise to transfer the control of Native health officers from the N/ative Department. PUBLIC HOSPITALS. On the vote of £83,170 for mental hospitals, Mr. Wilford (Hutt) urged that the Government should treat the female attendants more generously in the matter of wages and conditions. The Minister informed the House that provision was being made in the Public Works Estimates for erecting an institution where suspected lunatics could be kept on probation. Tbe whole question of dealing specially with epileptics and the feeble-minded was being considered. With regard to attendants' hours, he would carefully enquire into the matter in the hope of effecting an improvement.