NEW ZEALAND POLITICS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 12 June 1907, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND POLITICS.

I PRE-SESSIONAL ADDRESS. THE MINISTErTfOR EDUCATION IN THE NOETH. [United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, Wednesday. In the course of his speech last night Mr Fowlds, Minister for Education, said that among the reforms carried outi I by the Government was a provision for sinking funds for some of the old and unproductive, loans, and last year, out I of ordiuary revenue, £39,950 was provided. Then there was an item that had stood for years before the present party came into power— £7oo,ooo on debentures ; and £150,000 was paid off that. The" Leader of the Opposition claimed credit for a lot of reforms the Government had carried out; but Mr Fowlds' opinion was that if the Devil himself was the Leader of Opposition he would be found preaching righteousness. Referring to Education, Mr Fowlds said great strides had been made. Ho was pleased that the House had agreed to free education from the primaryschool to the University. The schools were no longer preserves of the wealthy. The technical education system and vote had also enormously extended the number of students. Those holding free places in the technical schools last year was 15,051. The Government expected great advantage to accrue to the colony from the visit of ite General Inspector to other countries. He defended the "School Journal," considering that ifc would be accompanied by extensive be- i nefis. Referring to the outbreak of .the . : plague in Auckland, he said the manner - in which the Health Department set' iibout combatting it justified the oxts- ' tence of that Department, '-. ?■ '■'" *".-'■■ ~ ■ A l t £ th Sr Land _ Bi J 1 ' *c Minister denied Mr Massey's assertion that he Mr Fowlds^was the real author of it. .lr Massey had called him a Sociali.lfc rtnong other names. He wasn't a Sorialist, but he would rather be- one nan uphold the present system. -Mr aassey. had threatened that the Land sill would not be passed unless he was irst carried out of the House. That vas the threat of an Anarchist. The arliament and the Government would* lo their duty, even to the extent of arrying Mr Massey out on a stretcher. Laughter). There was j good deal of .enuino opposition in Auckland to the Mil, but much of that was due to misepresentation. There was not the lightest justification for the assertion hat the Bill was an attack on the freeold already existing. Rheumo has permanently cured thon- - inds of sufferers from rheumatism, out, sciatica, and lumbago. It will nre you. All stores, 2s 6d and 4s 6d, -ive it a trial.