POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Lake County Press, Issue 980, 19 September 1901, Page 7

POLITICAL GOSSIP.

WELLINGTON, September 12

PHYSICAL DRILL

The title under which Mr Guinness's State School Children's Drill Bill has come back from the Statutes Revision Committee is the Physical Drill in Public and Native Schools' Bill.

In committee on the Bill in the Legislative Council yesterday the new title was passed on the voices. Clause 2 underwent certain deletions in its language, and was passed in the following form:—"lt shall be the duty of the Board in each district to cause physical drill to be taught to all boys and girls over the age of eight years attending the public schools in the district.'' In clause 3 the board were empowered to order the times of instruction, subject to the approval of the Minister, instead of that of the Governor-in-Council.—The Hon. J. E. .Jenkinson. on the ground of uniformity, objected to the provision in this clause that the board in each district should provide the mode of instruction. Changes should not be made in the mode of instruction in different districts. —The Minister replied that the orders of the boards were subject to the approval of the Minister, who would see that there was not too great a departure from uniformity. At the same time, there was room for a certain amount of variety. The power of the boards to alter ,or repeal their orders in this connection, subject to Ministerial approval, was struck out. Clause 4 provided that every board should furnish to the Minister a quarterly report showing that the requirements and regulations are being complied with. This was struck out. with the view of inserting another clause.—The Hon. G. M'Lean suggested that the information required be included in the annual report of the boards to the Minister. —In accord with this suggestion a new clause was substituted, providing that every education board shall include in its annual report to the Minister a statement of the manner in which the requirements of the Bill have been carried out.

The remaining clauses passed .with :onsequential amendments, the Bill was reported, and the third reading set down for next Wednesday. YOUTHFUL CIGARETTISTS.

In moving in the Council the second reading of his Cigarette Smoking by Youths Prohibition Bill, the Hon. Colonel Pitt said that cigarette smoking had greatly increased of late years, and whatever the effect might be on adults, it was their duty to prevent the evil effect of the practice on boys. The nervous system was affected." and many employers in America would not employ cigarette smokers, tven adults. Medical* evidence was that cigarette smoking by youths under seventeen years prejudicially affected the eyes, lungs, and heart. A 'commission appointed ly the medical journal the 'Lancet' had reported that there was present in American cigarettes no substance that could be called injurious to health: but the 'Lancet' was strongly against cigarette smoking by youths, and cited an instance of an epidemic of cases of death from syncope, resulting from nicotine poisoning, arising out of cigarette smoking by youths. Nicotine (the lion, gentleman held) must be injurious to growing children. —The Hon. T. Kelly opposed the Bill on the ground that it would be ineffective.—The Hon. H. Scotland considered it preposterous that under the Bill big boys of seventeen years, doing perhaps a man's work, should be whipped for a third offence. It was impossible to make even boys virtuous by Act of Parliament.—The Hon. (i. Jones recognised the evil of cigarette smoking, but not the value of whipping as a remedy.—The Hon. B. Reeves said that the only way to cure the evil of cigarette smoking was to prohibit the manufacture or importation of cigarettes.—The Hon. 11. Feldwick held that the proper remedy was to enforce the Adulteration Acts. He moved that the Bill be read this day three months.—At this stage the debate was adjourned till Wednesday next. The object of the Bill provides a £lO penalty for every person who sells, gives, or supplies any cigarette to any youth under the age of seventeen vears. Every such youth who smokes a cigarette, or any thereof, shall be deemed to be guilty of.an offence, and shall be liable to a "fine of 5s for the first offence. 10s for the second offence, and £1 for the third. Thereafter the Court may order a whipping. TEA COUPONS. Mr Millar has presented to the House a numerously-signed petition from the tea merchants and grocers of Duuedin praying the House to pass such legislation as may be necessary to suppress the use of coupons in connection with the sale of packages of tea. as being injurious to honest trading and demoralising to the community. They urge that the sale of tea by such questionable methods is improper aiid unbusinesslike, and injurious to the honest and legitimate trade carried on in connection with the sale of tea in Duiiedin, and that the use of copons in packets of tea gives a fictitious value to the article sold, and militates against honorable trading and competition. A newspaper editor once, on receiving his tailor's bill, returned it with this endorsement : '"Declined; handwriting illegible." A Sure Result.—" Say. old chap, Coffup and I have a bet we wish you'd decide for us.'' "No, thanks." "No! Why notr We're both friends of yours.'' " Exactly. So what's the use of milking an enemy of one of you? " Couldn't. Make 'Un Speak.—lnfuriated CO. 10th V.B. Mudfordshire Fusiliers (who has ordered bugler to sound the " Cease fire" several times without effect): "Don't you hear mc, fellow r Why the devil don't you sound the "Cease lire' when 1 tell you?" His Bugler : " If ye plaze. zur, a.'ve blowed a cmid o' bacon down spout t'ould irumputt, awn I can't make un speak I " In ancient times Scotsmen were forbidden bv law to land in Mainland under pain of losing an ear. This year they are patronising the island in thousands, and no ears so far have been cut off. British mines give raw material worth £80,000,000 a year.