PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19394, 31 July 1926, Page 12

PARLIAMENT.

DAY OF ESTIMATES. VOTE FOR EDUCATION. LONG DEBATE ENSUES. ,\y UNEVENTFUL- SITTING. [Bi* TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL BEPOUTEB.] WELLINGTON. Friday. The House of Representatives spent today in Committee of Supply on the Estimates. AH the afternoon and much of tho evening were taken up by a discussion on the Education vote, tho sitting being uneventful. A number of Labour amendments were defeated, at 11.25 tho total vote was disposed of. A number of other items were passed in quick succession. The House was still sitting at a late hour. Tho Legislative Council passed the Justices of the Peace .Amendment Bill through its second reading stage. This bill provides for women justices, and has hitherto been rejected by the Council. ESTIMATES UNDER REVIEW. EDUCATION DEPARTMENT. UNSUCCESSFUL AMENDMENTS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PBESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. Friday. The. House went into Committee of Supply this afternoon to further consider the Estimates. The first vote taken was Department of Education, £2,801.090. Discussion for the most part centred round the difficulty school committees had in meeting all requirements on present allowances. The Miftistqr, replying to a,question as to the position of junior high schools, said he had asked for a comprehensive report on the whole effect of the scheme and what it would cost. That report was just about finished. It wa3 veiy elaborate and he hoped to be in a position to make a statement on the subject at an early date, _ The discussion was continued in tho evening. -i • J ; , The Minister said the provision of free books for children was tried in 1913, but condemned after' a while although he was unable to say on what grounds.' Another system was to be tried which he believed would give satisfaction. He could not, however, give any indication at present of the nature of the proposed scheme. Mr. M. J. Savage (Auckland West) moved an amendment that the item capitation and grants for the supply of books in necessitous cases, be reduced by £lO as an indication that books .should be provided at the Government Printing Office and issued free to the children. The Minister said the cost would amount to £BO,OOO and this could not be found in the present year. \ ; Mr. H. E. Holland, Leader of the Opposition,' said the Minister's excuse of cost wafj not -well founded. • The s.mendmenfc was lost by 36 votes to 21.'. ' Mr. P. Eraser (Wellington Central) moved a reduction' of £lO on the total vote,, as aD indication that school requisites should be supplied free to child- ! ran in elementary . [schools.,, , The amendment was "'defeated by 38 votes to 18." Mr. H. 'T. Armstrong (Christchurch East) moved to reduce the total vote for elementary education by £9, as an indication that teachers removed from one district to another should bo allowed removal expenses. This. was defeated by 38 votes to 18. Mr. F. N- Bariiram. (Grey Lynn) then moved to reduce tho vote by £7, as an indication that school committees should be elected on 3 democratic basis. His amendment was lost by 42 votes to 13. Mr. H. E. Holland moved to reduce the total' vote by £5- as an indication that teachers' superannuation should be based on their best three years instead of the last three years' service. This was lost on the voices aiid at 11.25-p.m. the total vote was agreed to. ' The votes for Lands and Survey Department; £173,018; Scenery Preservation, £7165; Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Account, £41,135, and Lands for Settlement Account, £3952, were, agreed to without debate. (Left Sitting). TRIBUTES TO POLICE. WORK OF FORCE INCREASING. THE QUESTION OF UNIFORMS. [BY telegraph.-—special 'REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Friday, When the annual report of the Commissioner of Police was tabled in the House several speakers took advantage of the opportunity to call attention to the wants of the force in respect to clothing and boot allowance. A reduction was also urged in connection with the hours of duty". " ' " . ■ An Auckland member considered that the police, should be, equipped with lighter -material' for thp uniforms.' which would be more suitable in the northern climate. Other speakers stated that the. police were being overloaded with duties on the civil side and with work for Government departments, which was not the work for which' they were organised. Members genera'Uy paid a tribute to the efficiency of the force, r In reply, the Hon. F. J. Rolleston, Minister in Charge of the Police Department, expressed his thanks for the complimentary references. to the work of tho forge, which was a body the. reason to be proud of. For that reason the men should be treated as well as possible. Members of the force had not been leaving during the last year or two. because they could get better treatment elsewhere. The uniform allowance was now £7 10s, as against the £5 formerly paid. The commissioner had for some time been investigating the uniform question, particularly in regard to ' the provision- of a lighter clothing for- hot weather. The men were paid for seven • days a week, with every alternate Sunday off. The multiplication of dutios was quite apparent; it was due to the exigencies of other departments. It was a question whether tho police should not be paid by those departments for the work they performed. The result of that work imposed a very great burden on the force, with the result that it wa3 now understaffed. Cabinet had recently authorised the employment of an additional 25 men, which would give some relief. There was a waiting list of 200 applicants for the force. POWER EMPLOYEE'S DEATH POSITION OF THE WIDOW. [ST TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] . . r , s . WELLINGTON. Friday. In regard to a petition by Mrs. Sarah Elsie Hendrickson, of Te Rore, praying for a compassionate allowance in respect of the.death of her husband while in the employ.of the Te Awamutu Power Board, the Public Petitions Committee of the House to-day recommended to tho Government _ that power be given by validating legislation to the board to pay the petitioner a further amount by way of compassionate-allowance and tl'ut, power bcntd l . should obtain accident insurance svv'er to meet cases of this nature.