HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7931, 21 December 1887, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tuesday, December 20. The Honse continued sitting after 2 a.m. in committee on THE ESTIMATES. Mr Hutchison spoke at some length against the proposals of the Government on the education vote. Mr Moss also opposed the proposals, and urged that they should stand over till next session. The whole thing was owing to the desire for retrenchment ; but not even for the sake of retrenchment should the education system of the colony be disarranged. He objected to interfering with the system for the sake, of saving £10,000 or £15,000 on the education vote. Mr Marcbant thought the education system too costly, and he felt that the country was not getting value for its money. He was thoroughly in accord with the proposal to raise the school age to six years, and be believed the country ■would be in accord with it, especially as they had the assurance that the- country schools would not suffer by it. He would also support doing away with the training schools. He had no fear that the cause of education would suffer through the proposals of Ministers. Mr Hos? would vote for the redaction ot the capitation allowance, bnt would oppose raising the school age. • Mr, Fisher reviewed the speeches of some of the members who had spoken on the question. Referring to the argument used that the proposals should stand over till next' session, he asked was it fair to do that when the Education Boards of Otago, Hawke's Bay, and Auckland had' voluntarily stated it was quite possible to carry on th,e education system at a much reduced cost without impairing its efficiency? He hoped the House would come to a vote on the four proposals submitted by the Government. After some further discussion Mr Guinness moved that the item £27,000 for higher education be struck out.— Lost on the voices.' The committee divided on Mr Reeves' amendmest to reduce the vote by £5— —Ayes, 35 ; noes, 29. The reduction was consequently agreed to, the effect being, in terms of the Minister's proposal, ah expression of opinion that the school age should not be raised to six years. The result was received with cheers, which Mr Pish at once pronounced as "an indecent display," thereby raising an uproar. Mr Seddon moved that the words of Mr Fish be taken down, or that they be withdrawn. , Mr Fish :' l shan't withdraw. The tremier, called upon by Mr Seddon, urged Mr Fish to withdraw the remark, and the lion, member did so, remarking sarcastically that for MrSeddon to reprove • him" was like Satan rebuking Sin. Mr Duncan moved, a farther "reduction' of £5 to express the opinion of the House against the ..reduction ' of the capitation allowance.— Lost by 61 to 15. Mr Walker moved a reduction of £4, to express the opinion of the. House against the proposal to pay on strict instead of working.average.— Lost by 33 to '3o. Dr. Fitchett moved a reduction of £3 as against the proposal to abolish training * colleges.— Lost by 43 to 19. Mr Guinness' moved that the vote for higher education* be reduced by £2,. t0 mark the sense of the 'committee against the vote of £27,000.— L05t by 42 to 14. Mr Fitzkerbert moved to reduce the vote for industrial schools by £I;— Lost ou the voices. -..._. " The education vote was then passed. Defence, £178,095.^-Carried. Native affairs, *16,878.— Carried. Public buildings, £27i109.-Carried. State forests, and agriculture, £5811. — Carried. ; . ... - ,-,.,. Progress was reported, and" the House rose at 5.45 a.m. • '..■•,.