PARLIAMENT.

Mataura Ensign, 27 September 1913, Page 9

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. PEE UNITED TRESS ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, Sept. 26. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Imprest Suooly Bill, allocating £88o,(K)0. was nut through all its stages. The Council then adjourned'.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. THE ESTIMATES. Consideration of the Estimates was resumed. In regard to class 15, Education Department, MrG. Witty (Riccarton) contended that lower-paid teachers should receive greater consideration than they were at present receiving. Mr G. W. Russell (Avon) said that lie would like the Minister to say whether he had any expression of opinion from teachers as to the value of the 'School Journal.' It was -a new feature in education to have a journal, and he would like to know how far it was approved. The salaries of higher-paid officers were being permanently raised this year. Was this to avoid unpleasant comparisons with the salary paid to the Director of Physical Training? The question of expenditure in connection with the head office required a critical overhaul, which the Minister could not give it while he held) the portfolios of Finance and Defence as well as Education. Hon. James Allen. (Minister for Education) denied that there- were any increases in salaries this year of the office staff. In regard to teachers, there was legislation before the House which would give increases in salaries. The Cabinet had agreed to increase the staffing, which would affect 136 schools, and cost over £13,000 jier year, but this could only be brought about gradually. As to the 'School Journal,' he was emphatically of opinion that it was a most valuable adjunct to school work. It had recently been highly praised by Earl Grey (ex-Governor-Ge-npral of Canada), who had told him when in London that it was the best journal of its kind he had yet seen. Mr T. M. Wilford (Hutt) desired to discuss the relation, of the Civil Service Commissioners to the head office, when the chairman stopped him. Mr Wilford moved to report progress in order to take the Speaker's ruling on the question. On a division being t'lken the motion was rejected bv 31 votes to 28.

Mr J. C. Thomson (Wallace) urged that morn adequate previsions be made for the finance, of school committees.

Mr W. A. Veitch (Wanganui) put in a plea for the better housing of schoolteach eix in country districts. The House resumed in committee on tho Estimate.-? at 7.30 p.m.

Mr T. M. Wilford: (Hutt) urged the Government to introduce uniform schoolbooks. He proposed next session to divide the House on the question, so that tho electors would have the matter fresh in their minds at election time. He further asked the Minister when he proposed to grade teachers of high schools, the present system being an injustice to teachers. Hon. James Allen doubted the wisdom of providing uniform schoolbooks at the present time.

Mr W. D. S. Macdonald (Bay of Plenty) pleaded for more consideration for facilities for the transport to school of back-block children. Those in the cities, he contended, had an enormous advantage over the countiy children in: the matter of access to schools.

Mr J. Payne (Grey Lynn) said that he had one year's experience as a schoolteacher, and had experience in. commerce. It was a standing disgrace to bo wallowing in the slough of despond as they were wallowing in educational matters.

Mr J. A. Hanan (Invercargill) expressed the belief that there were children attending primary schools who should not be there, but should be receiving special instruction. A register of mentally affected children should be kept in each educational district.

Mr Wilford pleaded for justice to the back-blocks. There was an item on the Estimates_ for his district, and, to show his sincerity in the matter, ho asked that that grant be taken from the Hutt and allocated to the back-blocks. Dealing with the four medical inspectors, ho said that 50 other inspectors would have to be .appointed to work in conjunction with them. That would cost £IO,OOO a year in the immediate future, and how the Minister was going to provide that amount was more than he knew.

The Minister, dealing with medical inspectors, said that there were only four, and it was impossible for them to do all that the Department could wish. Tho scheme was only in the making. There were very few feeble-minded children in the elementary schools, but there were a 1000 or 1000 backward children. Ho was obliged to Mr Wilford for his offer in favor of back-blocks schook; but he could not accept it. Ho believed in treating all schools on their merits. Ho had schools classified wery month, and he diligently went through tho list. There were 10 inspectors under the medical officers, and it was not proposed to increase that number at tho moment.

Mr Wilford brought up tho question of the appointment of Mr Brown: as director of technica 7 education and demanded a public inquiry into it. Mr Brown, ho declared, had been an assistant master at Timaru under the present Inspector-General, and afterwards came to Wellington, and was given the position of inspector of technical instructor, although lie only did the work of a clerk; it was only on rare occasions that he did the work of an inspector. Now he had been suddenly elevated to the position of director of technical instruction at a salary of £475 with a maximum of £SBO, second only to the Inspector-Genera] himself. The appointment had been made by 'Gazette' notice and had never been advertised. There were other more qualified men in the Dominion than Brown who had never had a chance of getting the position. The. -appointment was far worse than the Royd Garlick appointment.

Hnn. James Allen, in reply, said that Brown had been in the service for 12 years, and had the rank of inspector. He had bwn given his present position bv the Civil Service Commissioners. He (Mr Allen) was not responsible for it,

and knew nothing about it. Mr G. W. Russell (Avon) said tiiat this way a most alarming admission on the nart of the Minister. Was the position then that the Commissioners could create any position in the service they liked without the consent of the Minister ?

The debate was continued on party lines.

At" V2A") a.m. the vote passed, and the House proceeded to discuss native schools.

On the item "Physical training" Mr Wilford moved to reduce the salary of the director by £2OO as an indication that Mr iiovd Garlick .should not have a higher salary than teachers in the Dominion.

Hon. James Allen, in reply, said that thera was a regulation against the wife of a public servant oiu.-lde the Railway Department carrying 011 business. He asked members to drop attacking Mr Garlick and let results prove whether he was capable' of carrying on tho duties of his office.

After the Telegraph Office closed at 2 a.m. the House continued the debate on Mr Wilford's motion to reduce Mr Rovd Garlick'.s salary by £2OO. The division was taken at 2,0\), when the motion was lost by 30 votes to 20. The class was then passed. On tho post and telegraph class Sir Joseph Ward (Leader of the Opposition) entered *l» protest against the Estimates being brought down in globo. This was wrong in principle, and he would like to know what the jwsition was.

Hon. 11. _ H. Rhodes (PostmasotcrGeneral) said that exception had been taken to tlie way the Estimates had been brought down, and lie accordingly had a schedule prepared giving the details, which had been, circulated. Mr Russell (Avon) said that if the schedule were embodied in the Estimates that would satisfy the Opposition. Mr Rhodes agreed! to this, then an amendment yras made and the class passed. The State coal mines class was passed at 3.55 'a.m..

On the State Fire Insurance Department Hon. F. M. B. Fisher (Minister in Charge) said the balance-sheet showed better results this year than last year but he admitted that there was less business between this Department and the State guarantee Advances Office since the change of ■policy ttntTeT which borrowers wero set at liberty to insure with any reputable office they pleased. The loss would probably be covered bv £SOO.

Sir Joseph Ward (Leader of the Opposition) contended that the loss must be infinitely greater. The Minister was dealing'only with the loss of renewals but the loss of new business must be taken into account. The State Guaranteed Advances Account was responsible for an animated party debate which lasted! for; aB hoTifi and a.-half, the class being passed and the estimates concluded at 5.55 a.m. The House adjourned at 6 a.m.