PARLIAMENTARY.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 139, 13 December 1887, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

I com our Special Correspondent. [by telegraph.] Wellington, Dec 12. !■ DUCAT-lON QUESTION. An awkward contretemps hasarisen over the Education policy of tho Government, which win. cause a lively debate before the House rises. If I mistake not, on the 7th ’■•ist it appears, by order of the Governor, that new regulations were issued iu regard to education, which provided inter alia for the abolition of capitation in all cases where children are below G years of age, or after they have passed the Gth standard. These regulations have now been issued, and members having had an opportunity of considering the mat ter the question was brought up this afternoon by .Mr Turnbull, who spoke very strongly against such a system of taking away from Parliament its privileges by issuing these regulations while their financial policy is still under consideration. lie cor'd not find anything in the standing orders to make an action of Government breach of promise, but he certainly thought it most reprehensible. Some debate followed as to the injury which would bo done to country districts for which no provision was made and the action of the Government was also canvassed. Major Atkinson stated that the regulation had been framed on the advice of tho Crown Law Officers and their action was perfectly justifiable, being taken with a view to place this portion of their policy before tiro House. Mr Smith asked if the House would give a special day for consideration of the motion which would make the regulations to apply to town schools only, but tho Premier stated that the whole question can be discussed when the education vote is before the House. In view of this debate Sir George Grey has given notice of the following motion, which is likely to cause a lively discussion, as it is a direct vote of censure otr the Government: —That the Government ought not to have advised the Governor to issue a proclamation depriving large numbers of children of their right of education which the existing law gives them. The whole thing came very unexpectedly before the House, but dame rumor has it that the action taken this afternoon was rather anticipated by at any rate one official of the Department. An Under-Secretary, who, when the matter was under consideration in the first instance, advised the Minister for Education that this course was irregular. Haughty George, however, curtly told the official gentleman to mind his own busiL"ss, and to do as he was told, which direct was carried out to the letter, with tlie result that the Government have brought a hornet’s nest about their ears. Tim Walton Park coal question, of which notice was given by Dr Fitchelt, as to danger to engiu" drivers from the use of Walton Park coal, owing to its sulphurous nature, has brought down upon him the wrath of the Directors of the Company, who have censund li.nr juv-Uv severely for making such reflection, which is likely to do' them very great injury, and was imire unwarrantable. The 'doctor laid the‘matter before the House ■]_is a f. ;. • i', -ah : h. > ..ph:h • I th it be old ;ii ! bring the qut-siiou on from any i,d Inutility i" t 1 "-' Company, as fi-oin “.forma!ion he had received he was |...< to believe that wi::f lie ha.! said was 'oil- ct-ot.'.-inkss. Y.'Vl rV '.'■■■ ■ - Id. i. the iVmi-r moY'd lor leave ol the House to jjs.i the Public W .qateim ul.d-.l;V'-red

in tho evening, which was granted, The Premier stated that to-morrow he would move for leave to introduce the Loan Bill, and he would also ask to have the second reading'at oiice, so as toeuable the debate on the Public Works Statement to be taken. . / LAND BOAEDS. The whole of this afternoon’s silting was occupied in committee in the discussion of tho 27th clause of tho Laud J3M, providing forthc abolition of Land t>oaids but which was struck cut by the \\ aste Lands Committee. During the discussion he system of members of tho House as being interested on a count of the fact that they receive traveling fees and allowances. The Chairman, however, ruled that ivherc members were interested in questions of public capacity they were enabled to vote and that it was only on questions which they were privately "iterested that they wore precluded.