PARLIAMENT

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 85, 8 October 1915, Page 8

PARLIAMENT

TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL The Legislative Council resumed at 2.30 p.m. to-day. A message was received from the House agreeing to the amendments made by the Council in the "Washing-up" Bill, the Counties Amendment Bill, and the Municipal Corporation Amendment Bill. The Hon. John Barr asked the Leader of the Council whether the Government would follow the same course with respect to the civilian members of the troopships, employed in any capacity, in the working of such ships as was followed in Great Britain — namely, that every person so employed should be provided with a. badge, to be worn inside the coat, having on the one side the words "Mercantile Marine" and on the reverse side the name of the person, his height, colour of hair, and such other particulars as might be deemed desirable to prevent fraudulent use of such badge? In a note to his question, Mr. .Barr said it was in some cases deemed undesirable that certain persons should leave the mercantile marine to join the Expeditionary Forces. In other instances certain persons engaged in the mercantile marine had been rejected as unfit for military service owing to some slight defect. (Proceeding.) * / HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The House of Representatives met at 11 a.m. In answer to Mr. G. Hunter, the Minister of Railways (Hon. W. H. Herries) said that the paper D 3 would be laid on the table later in the day, but there would only be a few copies available until Monday. The Right Hon. W. F. Massey informed Mr. Talbot that arrangements were being made for the supply of early information regarding the location of wounded soldiers who had been sent to various hospitals. Most of the' delay in getting 'replies to cablegrams concerning wounded soldiers was due to the abnormal amount of traffic that was passing over the lines. COUNTIES LAW. The amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Counties Amendment Bill were agreed to. MUNICIPAL ACT. The House also agreed to the amendments made by the Council in the Municipal Corporations Amendment Bill. / NEW RAILWAYS BILL. The RaQwAys Improvement Authorisation Amendment Bill was brought down by Governor's Message and read a first time. The Minister informed the House that the Bill was merely of a machinery character. PUBLIC HEALTH. The Hon. G. W. Russell moved the second reading of the Public Health Amendment Bill (No. 2), which proposes to give the Governor power, by Order in Council, to issue regulations under the Public Health Act to deal with houses that, in the opinion of the District' Health Officer, are not fit for habitation. He added that the chief object was to deal with certain habitations that are below the level of the street. The second reading was agreed to on the voices. HOSPITAL BOARDS. The second reading of the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Amendment Bill was moved by the Hon. G. W. Russell, who said that it proposed to lay down a fixed scale of travelling allowances for members of such boards. The Bill was read a second time on the voices. EDUCATION DISTRICTS. The Hon. J. A- Ha nan moved the second reading of the Education Amendment Bill, which proposes that the number of education districts be nine (the Boundaries Commission recommended seven) to be fixed by the Council of Education. He contended, he said, that the reduction of the number of districts would be to the direct- benefit of the children in the smaller districts, which had insufficient income to minister the educational needs of the children. Incidentally, he quoted the cases of three boards, which showed an abnormal percentage of cost and administration to total income: Westland 8.1 per cent., Grey 7.9 per cent., Marlborough 5.4 'per cent. The idea of the Bill was to effect a large saving in administration and release the money so saved for better uses. The smaller districts had everything to gain. He deprecated the idea of members quarrelling at this stage about boundaries of education districts, a subject of which they bad very little knowledge. Next session it would be necessary to bring down a Bill remedying technical defects in the Education Act, In the course of subsequent remarks Mr. EC. Poland expressed the belief that under a proper system of central control they could do away with education boards altogether. Mr. Parr expressed regret that the Minister had not grasped the nettle more firmly, as it was obvious to all that the great mass of the people was in favour of a substantial reduction in the present number of boards, so that the teachers who were moulding the character of the nation should be given better and wider opportunities of promotion. ' Mr. M'Callum said he recognised that Marlborough was doomed, and therefore could speak impartially. The Minister was clearly in favour of large boards — plus Southland— which, having only 9000 children to control, should be included in Otago. He moved (to kill the Bill) that the Bill Be read a second time this day six months. At 1 p.m. the Houee adjourned until 2.30 p.m. Speaking- at this afternoon's sitting, Mr. Guthrie expressed the fervent hope that in debating the subject members would sink, local considerations in the interests of the Dominion as a whole. Mr. Craigie considered that the Commission which had gone into the subject was a farce. It was biased from thei beginning, and its report was only what might have been expected. ' Mr. J. G. Anderson said that for years he had been in favour of doing away with Education Boards and placing teachers under the control of the State. As long as they had Education Boards they would always have discontent and injustice. Tf they had boards at all, they should be of a small size. If they were going to retain boards they might just as well keep them as they are at present. Mr. Witty said he could not understand why the Commission should have been set up, at great cost, if the House was not going to accept the Commission's recommendations (Proceeding.)