House of Representatives

Grey River Argus, 1 August 1903, Page 3

House of Representatives

< Wellington, July 31. The House met at 2 30, ' I A Committee was set up to deal with the question of education. In the course of a Bhoit discussion several members urged that the t-cope of the committee* labours was too wide 'and that no practical value would result. Mr Seddon said that be looked upon !f'6 fii-st order o' reference (.ha v deal* ing with primary education) as thft most important branch of the Com* inittee's work. An improvement could be made in our primary system and it should be done at the earliest possible moment. There should be a sessional select committee on education and it was bis intention to have such a committee set up each session. With tbgard to the complaints that the appropriation voted by the House last s ssion had not lieen paid to the school corumittef"), he said ttut the matter would be provided for this Hes9io", as ho would have a clause' inserted in the Appropriation Act providing, for paymept direct- to the 1 committees. Speaking of the rrquests for increased educational grants, Mi Seddon said that he was busy just now preparing the fin-ihcial' statement, and he found that despite his desire to economise there must be increases in the estimates this year. He would like to give L 20,000 or L3Q,fOO in crease in the education vote alone tbis year, and he believed t ut it would be money well spent ; but they had to cut thflir coat accordiug to their cloth. Jn some respects forever theie would be an increase in (his vote,' wd;ch would be satisfactoiy to members of the House. He further announced that a bill would be introduced this session oo compel boards of Government" to carry •>ujb the wishes of Parliament in regard to secondary education. The Fire Prevention Bill was introduced by Governor's me-Bigeaud, read a first time. JVfr Bedford gave notice to ask the Premier whether, in .view Cof the decision of the Fiilr Court refuting a mandamus to compel the Newtown Licensing tGommittes to issue licenses,' anofin view of tho prospect of farther expensjve-htigationi on appeal to the Privy Council, Government will iutroduce immediately a -bill to provide for ,a^dcpn4 poll in alt cases 1 where the local option poll has been declared void by » Magistrate, seeing that} whatever ecis on the' Privy Council 'arrives at Government will be bound to grant a second poll, or in some other way giveeffect to the will of the people. The House rose at 5 30.

The" House resumed at 7 30. Mr Sediion moved the 6eoond read*. i»g of the Patriotic Fundi Bill tp adpoit of a diversion ( Qf" the surplus of the Patriotic South African war funds. Several members thought the time not yet ripQ for the' bill, as all t-ke "claims had not been exhausted The second reading was oarried by 30 to 20. The following bills ware read a second time: — Medical Practitiouers Re ietr»tiyn, Inebriates ' v Institutioa Amendment, First Offenders Probation Amendment, Dairy Industry Act Amendment, and Wire ess Telegraphy. Mr Seddon moved the second read* iv s; of the Coastwise Trade Bill, which »aj adversely criticised by Messrs Massoy, Moss, Fowlds, Buchanan, and Herries, the chief complaint? being that it was aimed at the 'Frisco mail eeivice.

• Sir Joseph Ward strongly .sapportad the bill and expressed himself strongly in favor of the 'Frisco service. The debate was adjourned. The Housb rose at 12 20.