POLITICAL NOTES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 14167, 15 September 1906, Page 7

POLITICAL NOTES.

[From Otjr Correspondent.] "WELLINGTON, September 14. REFORMATORY CLASSIFICATION. The education report contains tho following paragraph Among the problems to be dealt with in thd Work xff making our industrial schools system an increasingly powerful means of advancing the general wellbeing of tho community, the most important, and certainly the most difficult, is that of dealing with that section of the reformatory inmates, both young men and young women, whoso dangerously sensual and criminal tendencies hamper the general work of reforming the other inmates. Happily, neither in Burnham nor in Te O rang a. Home dro the numbers of such cases large, although it is idle to- deny that there are a few in each institution who, should be en- ’ tircly separated from tho others, that is to sav, that another grade in the classification scheme should be instituted to do this. Other buildings must bo erected, either as separate institutions or as annexes to tho existing schools, but they must be thoroughly isolated. There are'in the gaols of tho colony, no doubt, a proportion of the younger prisoners who have similar characteritics. Probably the cases of this class from the reformatories and those from the gacia should be brought together in institutions specially equipped to deal with them. There are some of these young people who, either from mental deficiency or moral obliquity, seem impervious to all,efforts made in their behalf, and as the industrial schools law is at present, there is no power to' detain inmates after they reftch twenty-one years of age. The matter is of grave concern* and the question of providing for these unfortunates is one that intimately affects the public weal.” ‘ RAILWAY SERVANTS. There was some discussion in the House this afternoon, in regard to the pay of some members of the railway service. Several members stated that there was dissatisfaction in the service. Air J. F. Arnold said that there was an increasing, amount of dissatisfaction throughout the whole railway service, and particularly was this the case in the South Island. There was a weight of dissatisfaction such as had not existed for many years, and he hoped, that the Minister would thoroughly investigate the whole matter. The member for Wairarapa took a similar view. In reply, the Minister of Railways said that he did not believe the members were justified in their estimates of the amount of dissatisfaction existing. H© did not doubt, that the hon gentlemen, were honest in their belief, but they’were mistaken. Ho knew railway men in every part of th©' colony, and the men would have_ no hesitation in ventilating their grievance. There were ten thousand men in the service, and of course some men thought they had grievances, and where possible he would improve matters. “ Lef. mo know of any case of injustice in the railway service and I will ignore th© general manager and everyone else, if necessary, in -rectifying it,” said the Minister. He added that ho proposed to bring down a Bill that session, to confirm the increases in salaries granted during the previous year. EDUCATION IN THE CHATHAMS. During the year lt)05 four schools were in operation in- the Chatham Islands. These schools comprised (1) Te One, the main school in the centre of Chatham Islands; (2) Moreroa, a part time .school five miles north of Te One; (3) Matarakau; amf (4) Kaingaroa, two small part time schools situated on the northern. shore of the island. Ma- ; tarakau and Kaingaroa ar© worked in conjunction with Moreroa. An, itinerant teacher manages these three part time schools. The main school at Te One is staffed by a certificated teacher and two pupil teachers. The total number on the roll of all the schools at the end of 1905 was 91, a decrease of two compared with 1904, while tho average attendance was 72, the same as the previous year. The total expenditure on these schools was £sll 7s. Pitt'lsland school, which remained closed for some time owing to the difficulty of obtaining a teacher, has been re-opened, a suitable teacher having been found for the -place. Two scholarships awarded to. children attending Chatham Island schools are now current. The. next examination will be held next year. A native school scholarship is .also being held by a Maori boy from Chatham Island,' who is attending Te Auto College. GRAIN LOADING. Mr D. Buddo mentioned the inconvenience caused to- consignees of grain at country stations by the fact that Gucli stations are used as training grounds- for railway servants, and the work is not in charge of a competent foreman. The Minister of Railways, in reply, said that the question of ap-pointing-competent foremen was worthy of consideration, and he would deal with the matter. SHEEP RETURNS. According to the annual returns furnished by the. Agricultural Department there were 20,108,471 sheep in the polony on April 30 last, 10,098,740 being in the South, and 10,009,731 in tho North Island. Tins shows an. increase compared with last year of 977,596. comprising 621,126 in the North Island and 350,470 in the South Island. There are 632,017 sheep in Auckland province, 4,857,640 in Napier, 4,520,074 in Wellington and West Coast, 1.048,567 in Marlborough and Nelson, in Canterbury and Kaikoura, and 3,788,280 in Otago. ■THE CASE OF A CRIPPLE. Air Tanner proposes to ask the Minister in charge of Hospitals: and Charitable Aid whether his attention has been called to tho disclosures made at a meeting of the Samaritan Home trustees in Christchurch on September 11. given in th© “ Lyttelton Times ” of September 12, in which it was alleged that a crippled lad, hoarded out by the South Canterbury Charitable Aid Board, wae afterwards' abandoned, and subsequently fell into'the hands of the police in Christchurch. THE EXHIBITION CAMP. Mr Buddo has given notice to' ask the Government whether it- will make inquiries of Education Boards and other sources interested as to what extent a cadet camp at the Christchurch Exhibition would bo availed of by the various public school corps throughout th© colony, and if replies are favourable whether it- will reconsider the question of a. cadet camp, the recent decision .having caused great disappointment to cadets who had paid the contribution, and in the opinion of those in a good position to form an opinion a valuable draw to the Exhibition is being lost if the camp is not- carried out as intended. FIRE BRIGADES. During the committee discussion on the Fir© Brigades Bill the member for Riccarton succeeded, in introducing a danse providing that any extension of a fire district must be subject to- a poll of tho ratepayers, a poll to be -taken

on a petition signed by 15 per cent of the ratepayers. The Press Association report stated in error that 'this motion had been rejected. THE LYTTELTON TUNNEL. During the consideration of the Railway Estimates the member for Christchurch North urged that the Railway Department should take some steps to minimise the smoke nuisance- in the Lyttelton tunnel. He .said that constant representations had been made with a view to- securing an improvement, but he had yet to learn that anything had been done. The electrification of railways was proceeding _ very rapidly in America and Great Britain, and,' while the people .of Canterbury were patient and long-suffering, they expected some improvement. He was quite prepared to supply the Minister . with details of the cost of electrification, and to show him that the line could he run more cheaply 7 with electricity than with steam. . The Hon W. Hall-Jonee, in reply, said that in response to the request of the member for Lyttelton he bad given instructions about a- fortnight previously for the preparation of a report on the means of electrifying the Christohurch-Lyttelton line. A LIBERAL GIFT. The Local Bills Committee to-day passed the Auckland Savings Bank Educational Special Donation Bill. This measure seeks to obtain, power for the trustees of the Auckland Savings Bank, a- private institution, to make a donation of £IO,OOO out of its accumulated profits to tho Auckland Education Board for tho purpose of erecting a technical college. i PARLIAMENTARY LANGUAGE. There are many parliamentary ways of saying unparliamentary tilings in th© House. Th© Minister of Railways and ■the member for Auckland East had a email altercation this evening. “I might eay that th© Minister was rude,” said Mr Baume. “I do not want to say that. I know that ho does not mean to' be rude; it is only bis manner.” The Minister countered with grave courtesy. “I admit the hon member receives £3OO per year for carrying out th© work of the country,” ■he said, “ and, although wo may differ as to the manner in which he earns the sum, he is entitled to a reply. I will not say anything about his waste of time, because you, Sir, would rule me out of order.” CIVIL SERVICE SUPERANNUAi • TION.

I The Civil Service Superannuation Bill intnodheed last session has not com© down during the present session. I understand, that it is hung up pending th© decision of the House regarding the Land Bill. Should the Land Bill provoke the lengthy, discussion that is confidently anticipated the Superannuation Bill will be passed on , to the 1907 session.