RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 November 1927, Page 7

RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION

NELSON SYSTEM’S PROSPECTS

LABOUR LEADER’S SUPPORT

(Special to "Star.")

WELLINGTON, November 24.

Speaking on the Education Committee’s report on the Education Amendment Bill, to-day, the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Holland), said it seemed to him that if the Bill, as amended by the committee, was passed by the House, it would settle the vexed question of religious instruction in schools. Mr J. S. Dickson (Parnell): No, it won’t. , z , Mr Holland said that at the last election, every member went to the country pledged to support and uphold the present system of free secular and compulsory education. At the same time, a number of members hid pledged themselves the other way as well. He did not think any member should pledge himself to anything but what was contained in his party’s programme. When they did that, they were bound to put themselves in an awkward dilemma. When members made no other pledges than to their own party; they had clear cut issue to act as the foundation of discussion. By a majority vote, the House had made a declaration in favour of the Nelson system. Personally he would have preferred to leave the matter as ft was at present, but the decision of the House had been made. That decision did not involve surrender of the existing system of education. He did not think people who wanted religious teaching in schools could ask for anything more than the Nelson system. He had every respect for those people who wanted Bible reading in schools, but he did think if those people lived their lives in their homes in strict accordance with the tenets of Christianity, there would be no need for them to come to the State and ask it to step in. For the reason that it contained a provision for the Nelson system, he would like to' see the Bill go through, and that it would not be one of innocents that would be slaughtered before the session came to an end. # . LICENSING BILL.

Mr Atmore asked the Prime Minister whether in view of the, general and increasing dissatisfaction with the present position concerning the Licensing Bill, and widespread desire to have an early authoritative decision as to the intention of the Government, would Mr Coates disclose his intention to-day concerning the Bill. Mr Coates replied that he would not do so. He had already referred to the matter and had nothing further to add. More than that, negotiations were taking place, and that when thesd were complete, he would then make a full statement, in order that the House and country might know the position. ARBITRATION AMENDMENTS. The fact that the Arbitration Amendment Bill appeared as the seventh item of the day on the order paper caused some surprise among a section of the Reform members of the House, who expected that the committee stage of the Bill would be gone on with today. This suggested the possibility that because of its contentious nature, and the lateness of the session, the Bill might not be gone on with this year, especially as the Minister of Labour stated in the House this week, that a conference would be called in regard to the construction of the Arbitration Court. It will be recalled that the sections in the Bill dealing with the Court’s constitution were deleted by the Labour Bills Committee. It was authoritatively stated this afternoon that it was too optimistic to expect the Bill would be dropped. The measure was most important, and the fullest consideration would have to be given as to what should be done with it, even if the House were kept in session for another fortnight. Another Bill which is suggested might be dropped is the Education Amendment Bill. The Education Committee has inserted a clause providing for the Nelson system of religious instruction despite the fact that the Minister of Education, in a printed reply to a question by Mr Atmore, stated on Monday night that the Government did not propose to introduce legislation dealing with the Nelson system this session.

STAMP DUTIES. A number of amendments to the Stamp Duties Act was introduced in the House by Governor-General’s message early this morning.. Conveyance of land is not to be deemed to be made for an. inadequate consideration, merely because the amount of consideration may be less than the district valuation, so long as the transfer price represents a fair value.

A universal duty of tw'opence is proposed in regard to the supply of milk, cream or other dairy produce to a factory. The Attorney-General explained that under the present law, a maximum of 12/6 is chargeable. s Exemption from stamp duty is provided for receipts given by discharged prisoners in respect of moneys held on their behalf by the prison authorities.

Receipts by Racing Clubs in respect of admission to racecourses are to be exempted from totalisator duty. The Minister pointed out that the amusement tax is already paid on the receipts which means that double taxation operates. Additional provisions are made for the recovery of duties owing by Racing Clubs. „ • Moving the second reading of the Bill to-night, the Minister of Finance (Mr Downie Stewart) said the Bill was not contentious, and most of the clauses were aimed at remedying anomalies. Referring to the provision to limit the duty payable on assignments of money owing by a dairy company, to suppliers of milk, the Minister said that this clause had been for by dairy factories all over New Zealand, and as very little revenue had been involved, it had been considered reasonable to make the concession. Racing Clubs’ receipts, in respect of admission to courses had also been exempted from payment of a totalisator tax It had been represented to the Government that Racing Clubs had really been paying double taxation on the receipts. The amount was very small and it had been considered only fair to make the remission. Mr Stewart said a further amendment he proposed to move in committee would exempt agreements made between Power Board and consumers from stamp duty. A good deal of irritation had been caused by the im-

position of duty on agreements which consumers had signed, binding them to take a minimum quantity of power. The question was' arguable as to whether the agreements were legal, but the amount of duty was very small, about 1/2. In committee an amendment was moved by Mr Stewart accordingly. Sir G. Hunter expressed pleasure that Racing Clubs were being given a remission of duty. Although the remission on gate receipts was not much it was a recognition by the Government that the clubs were entitled to some remission of taxation, in view of the amount they were called on to pay under the totalisator tax.

The Bill was passed. The Power Boards’ Bill was also passed.