THE EDUCATION BILL.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13230, 25 September 1908, Page 2

THE EDUCATION BILL.

« TO BE GONE ON WITH.

(srxcui. to "'thi nucss."V WELLINGTON, September 23A brief discussion todk place in the House this afternoon regarding tiic Education 821, whicih has occupied a place of varying obscurity on the Ch-der Paper since Mr Wilford'e amendment in favour of uniform school books was recently carried against the Government. Mr Barclay asked the Minister «f Education what course he proposed to puireuo in connection with tho Education Bißl, and received the following reply : _ Th© mattor will bo dealt wuh when a statement is made to the House by the Prime-Minister regarding tho busings to be dealt wiiih this session, Mr Barclay, who had supported Mr Wfliords amendment, said he had TODed for it not so nrnah in favour of uniform school books as with the object of getuing free books. Hon. members appeared to scent a reversal aS Mr Barclays vote, and there wero many cries of "Oh I that's too thin," and "the old game again.'" Mr Baume expressed dissatisfaction with tho fact that tine Education Bill had practically disappeared from tho Order Paper. Mr FieJd: It is still on tho Order Paper. Mr Baumo: Yes, but wo know what it means when we see a Bill in tho 13dh or 14 th place on tho Order Paper. Continuing, Mr Baume said ho was in favour of uniformity in eohcoJ books to a certain extent, but notwithstanding that he had voted against the amondment in order to save the Bill. The , measure was a very important one. 'and it behoved all members to consider tho advisability of siniking minor differences in order to assist in tho passage of tho Bill. Mr Aitken said that the fact that thoro had boon an adverse vote against the Government on one clause would not absolve it from responsibility if the Bill did not pass this session. The for jSduauion eaid that Mr Barclay had let the cat out of the ha"- as far as he w.is concerned ; but no wonl' 1 po Farther than Mr Barclay,* aJ'd say that it wmikl be disastrous _ if the uniform school book "was instituted", lb would bo a different thing altogether to free school books. It was boaatise he had thought come members were no doubt in tho san:o position as Mr Barclay, ar,d had voted as they thought for a free book that he had taken tho course ho had. A uniform school book would be a larger expanse to parents than ten years' cost of the credent interchange from one district to another. He (the Minister) had told Mr Wilford some time beforo that the question of a uniform book would hi* gone into. In view of that ho had been very surprised when that member moved his amendment. Mr Wilford: I gave you notice of it. Thr* Prime Minister's statement in res , to the Bill was made this evening. We propose." he eaid, "to go on with this Bill. (Hear, hear.) Wo ar«* going on with it on tho understanding that an important alteration mad* in. Ct-anmitteo is not insisted r>pon." Mr Wilford: There is no understa-nu-ine with in© The Prime Minister: We have not asked for an understanding with any Snrticnlar person. , No persons except [iiiisters have any right to introduce matters of policy into any Bill. Mr Maswy: I can't nerr* with that. Sir Joseph Ward said that ho was .speaking about policy matters, nnd th.it he did not intend to allow himself to he side tracked.