HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4660, 14 July 1886, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Yesterday. The Houses met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to questions it was stated:— That in making futuro appointments to the Legislative Council the propriety of nominating members for the mining districts would receive consideration. That Mr Arthur Clayden was an emigration agent under the control. of the Agent-General. Mr Clayden had represented himself as a volunteer, but money had been paid to him, not as salary, but for expenses. _Mr Pyke,_ on the Premier's suggestion, withdrew his motion relating to the rejection of tax remission bills by the Legislative Council, and Sir Robert Stout said that the Minister of Mines would bring in a bill dealing with the abolition of the gold duty. The Defence Bill, the Civil Service Reform Bill, and the Animals Protection Act Amendment Bill were read a third time and passed. The Government Loans to Local Bodies Bill was further considered in committee. —In clause 13, the Treasurer not to lend to the local authorities in excess of the sums stated, Sir Julius Vogel said he proposed that the sum to be lent to a County Council should not exceed £10,000, to a Road Board not exceeding £4000, to a Town Board not exceeding £300, and to a River Board not exceeding £1000. Mr Seddon moved an amendment that the amount to a County Council should be £10,000 -where there were no Road Boards, and £5000 where there wete Road Boards. Sir Julius Vogel opposed the ; amendment ojj

the ground that it would hare no effect if carried. Considerable discussion ensued, after which Mr Seddon moved that £10,000 bo struck out and £5000 inserted. Mr Guinness pointed out that if Sir Julius Vogel's motion were carried moro Road Boards would spring up in every county so as to take advantage of the provisions for borrowing. Major Atkinson appreciated the difficulty tho Treasurer was in over this matter, but ho would suggest that Sir J. Vogol should accept tho £5000 limit proposed by Mr Seddon. Sir Julius Vogel said that if the committee were willing he would accept £0000 as the maximum for County Counsils and £3000 for Road Boards. Mr Seddon said he would accept that compromise. The motion that £6000 bo inserted was then carried. Mr Guinness moved that £3000 be inserted for Road Boards whore tho Counties Act was not in operation. Sir Julius Vogel said that would make the Act a burlesque; he hoped the ameudment would be withdrawn. Mr Guinness withdrew the amendment. The motion for £3000 for Road boards was then put and carried. Mr Menteath moved a proviso that the amount payable to any local bodies within boundaries of any county should not exceed £10,000. Sir Julius Vogel emphatically protested against tho amendment, _as it would break down the bill and make it unworkable, as the Government could not decide which Road Board should bo reduced, The amendment was lost by 53 to 13. Clause 13 as amended was then passed.— Several new clauses were added to tho bill. A now clause making special provision for school buildings elicited some discussion, which was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment.

The House resumed at 7.30 in committee on the Government Loans to Local Bodies Bill.—Tho discussion was continued on the clause making special provision for loans to Education Boards for the erection of school buildings. After an hour's debate, in which much opposition was shown to the proposal, tho clause was rejected on the »oicea. —Thu bill whs reported with amendments, and recommitted for the_ further consideration of three clauses, which were

passed. On the motion for going into Committee of Supply, Mr Scobio Mackenzie moved to to rescind the resolution of October, 1884, by which practising medical men were disabled from aciitig as coroners. He urged that doctors, being skilled in medical knowledge, were the beet persons who eouldbe chosen as coroners, and he did not think there was any fear of their abusin-r their positions. He added that the original resolution was passed in a thin House. —Mr Tole opposed the motion on the ground that it was improper that medical men should be in a position to sit in judgment on their brethren. It was the doctors alone who objected to the present system.—Colonel Trimble, Mr Newman, Mr Seddon, Mr H;itch, Mr Ivess, Mr "Wake Held, Mr Conolly, Mr Buchanan, Mr Rolleston, and Mr Ross took part in the discussion which followed. —Mr Mackenzie's resolution was lost by 36 to 35. The House then went into Committee of Supply, and the estimates were further considered.

Education vote, item £9500, boarding out children—Sir Robert Stout, in answer to a question, said that this was an increase of £2500 on last year. The system had been found highly satisfactory.—Mr Turnbull moved to strike out the item £3500 for High Schools.—Mr Kerr said that the time was fust approaching when tho country would have to bo contend with educating children up to the fourth standard.—Major Atkinson said that the result would be to throw all power into the hands of the rich. Instead of being , content with the fourth standard, he believed the people would insist that secondary and University education should be thrown open to all.—Mr Seddou pointed out that the Hokitika High School vote had been omitted thia year.—Sir Robert Stout said that no inclination had been shown to maks a start with the school. — The discussion merged into » general debate on the question of higher education, in which -a largo number of speakers took part. Sir Robert Stout defended the vote at some length. Mr Guinness asked for a grant for a High School at Grcyinouth, ai.d Mr Ilursthouse announced that he intended to ask for £1000 for a school at Motueka. Eventually tho item was retained by 42 to 12.—Tho total vote, £382,914, was passed intact.

Class 9, Native Minister, £'20,104, was passed without reduction. Class 12, Defence, Bryco said the police force was over officered. Inspectors who had been disrated by the former Government had been reinstated.— Mr Ballance said that the expense per head of the population was less than it was three years ago. The fresh appointments had been found absolutely necessary.—The vote was passed without further comment. The House rose at 1.15.