HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Yesterday's Afternoon Sitting.

Evening Post, Volume XLVIII, Issue 54, 1 September 1894, Page 4

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Yesterday's Afternoon Sitting.

FIRST READINGS. Tho Hikutaia No. 1 Block Boundary Bill (Hon. Mr. Soddon), and the Unclaimed Land Bill (Hon. Mr. Ward), were read a first timo. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. On tho motion to go into Committee of Supply, Mr. E. M. Smith moved an amondmont in favour of tho Government taking over the liabilities of tho Now Plymouth Harbour Board to tho bondholders. After over an hour's discussion, the amendment was lost on the voices, and tho House went into Committee of Supply to oonsider the Education Department estimates. Evening Sitting. Consideration of tho first item of tho Education estimates was continued. Thero was a long discussion upon education gonorally. The Minister for Education, in reply to various questions, said it was for tho Kduoation Boards to decide whether cookery should bo taught in schools; school books should bo uniform ; toachers' salaries woiild havo to bo plaood on a more uniform basi3 ; Inspectors should bo centralised in tho Department. Dr. Newman said though tho Boards could havo cookery taught they wero hampered for want of apparatus. There was a long discussion upon secondary oduoation. Mr. Thompson moved to roduco tho vote by .81, as an indication that tho whole of the eduoational endowments should be nationalised. The Minister said this would be best discussed when his Endowed Schools Bill wn,3 introduced. Tho amendment was lost by 43 to 16. Mossrs B Moiedith, T. Thompson, and G. W. Eusaell objeoted to tho increase in tho voto for tho maintonanco of children in privato industrial" schools from .£2700 to .£31)00. Tho Minister said tliM was dno to an increased number of children. Mr. Morodith movoil to reduce tho voto by £1 as indication of dissatisfaction with tho management ol private- industrial RoLools. Tho amondmont was lost by 33 to 19. Tho total votes— Education Dopartmont, .6392,472; Lunacy and Charitable Department, £18,433 : and Dopartmont of Labonr, .£3o3o— wore passed. Tho Ministor for Minos took oharge of the Mines Department Estimates* .£18,395, whioh were passed through rapidly, as wore the Estimates of tho Department of Agrioulturo (Hon. J. M-Konzio), .£34,001. Tho Stamp Department, JMG7S, Lands and Deeds Rogislry, -615,010, and Governmont Insurance- Department, £51,493 (Hon. Mr. Ward), passed with equal speed. Tho Kailway Department, . X 725.000, passed through with little remark. Tho votes for Pnblio Buildincrs. .£18,500, School Buildings, .£31,000, and Inspection of Machinery, .£llOO, wore speedily passed. This completed the Estimates, mid progress was reported at 1.10 a,rn. WESTFOBT-CABDIFF CdAL COMPANT. Mr. G. W. Rußsell presontod tho roporfc of tho Eailways Committee on tho petition of tho Wostport-Cardiff Coal Company, and movod that it be referred to the Governmont. Dr. Newman moved as an amendment that tho debate be adjourned. The amendment was lost by 30 to 8, tho Premier and Minister for Lands voting for tho amendment, and the otherMiaisiorsand tho bulk of the Party votiijg'tigainst it. _ - »^Tho Pren>ies-SflggoBted, as a compromise, - th^'-tpSTnotion should be altored to ono of eimply laying the report on tho tablo. Tho compromise was accepted aftor some debate, tho report being laid on the table, and Mr. Rupsoll giving notioo to inovo on Tuesday that it bo referred to tho Government. Tho Honso roso at 1.40 a.m.