UNUSUAL PROCEDURE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20323, 2 August 1929, Page 16

UNUSUAL PROCEDURE.

EDUCATION AMENDMENT BILL

PRIVATE MEMBER'S MEASURE,

" SAVOURS OF TRIFLING."

[nv TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Thursday.

" Do not the rank and file members of the United Party know what the Government is doing, or is <his sheer fooling?" asked Mr. E. J. Howard (Labour—Christchurch South) in the House this afternoon during a discussion that arose on tho introduction of the Education Amendment Bill by Mr. J. S. Fletcher (Govern rnent—Grey Lynn) Mr. Howard's point was that such a bill should lie introduced by the Minister of Education, in view of the general agreement that the Education Act should be overhauled and consolidated.

Mr. Fletcher's bill aims simply to repeal sub section two of section 15 of the Education Amendment Act, 1919. which reads: "No regulation under this section shall be invalid because it deals with i.ny matter provided for in the previous Act or is contrary to the provisions of that Act." Mr. Fletcher contended that if the rights of Parliament could be over-ridden in that way it was bettor that those rights should cease.

" This seems to bo practically a reproduction of a bill I introduced last year," commented the Leader of the Labour Party. Mr. 11. E Holland. " I am glad to see a member of tho United Party following the Labour Party in this respect, and I can promise him .our full support. I only hopo he has the support of his party, too." The Education Act was in a hopeless muddlo and no lawyer could interpret somfe parts of it, said Mr. R. A. Wright (Reform —Wellington Suburbs), late Minister of Education. Tho subsection it was proposed to repeal had never been abused either by the National Government, which introduced it, or by the Reform Government. It was simply brought in as a matter of expediency " to put some sense into the Act so that wo could make some use of it." It had been intended to recast the whole Education Act, but that had not so far been dono, and possibly the Reform Party should bear some blame for that. Mr. P. Eraser (Labour —Wellington Central) thought it savoured of trifling with the matter to seek to repeal the section by means of a private member's bill. Mr. Fletcher should bo congratulated on his initiative, but somo lack of cohesion in tho party was evident when an important principle was brought forward in a privato member's bill instead of by the Government, after consideration by the Cabinet.

The matter of recasting and consolidating the Education Act had not been overlooked by the Government, said the Minister of Education, the Hon. 11. Atmore. He had had numerous conferences with his officers on the question, but it would take some time to bring about the changes. It would not be possible to consolidate tho Act this session, but the responsibility was not being shirked. The Government was then twitted by Mr. Howard with having a rank and filo that did not know (he intentions of the Government. That was all the more remarkable, seeing that the rank and file members were so few in the Government ranks. Ho asked whether tho rank and filo were using the bill for advertising purposes to indicate that the Government would take up the matter later. In any case tho procedure followed was riot cricket.

Replying. Mr. Fletcher said no one would doubt that the amendment sought had been asked for by the people in order that government by regulations should ceaso. The bill was read a first time.

DEALING WITH VAGRANTS. POLICE OFFENCES ACT. AN AMENDING BILL. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Thursday. Introducing tho Police Offences Amendment Rill in the House to day, Mr. G. C. C. Black (Government —Motueka) said flit object of tho bill was to give tho House an opportunity to review that section of the Act passed in 1926 permitting the arrest without warrant of a person deemed *o have no lawful or visible means of support. A Labour Voice: But I thought the Minister of Justice was bringing in such a bill A Reform Member: A bookmakers' bill The bill was read a first time. DAIRYING RESEARCH. PROPOSAL FOR LABORATORY. CLAIMS OF THE WAIKATO. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER. 1 WELLINGTON. Thursday Tho proposed establishment, by the Gov eminent of a field laboratory in a dairy district was tho subject of a f|uestion, notice of which was given by Mr. J. A Young (Reform—Hamilton), in the House this a'ternoon Mr. Young gave notice to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Hon G. W Forbes, if he would take into con sidoration tho outstanding claims of the Waikato and South Auckland districts centering on Hamilton, as presenting the most suitable among the dairy districts of the Dominion for the intensive ob serration, study and experimental treat, merit of morbid and pathological condi tions pertaining to all classes and breeds of dairy stock.

RAILWAY HOUSE FACTORY. DISPOSAL OF TIMBER. [nv TEi.Eon AT"ir; —srnri at, reporter. 1 WELLINGTON. Thursday. " Is it a fact that a private company in Hamilton has submitted an offer for tho whole, of the stock of timber at the Frariktori house factory?" asked Mr. W. \j. Martin (Labour — Raglan), in an urgent question addressed to the Minister of Railways, Hon. W. B. Taverncr, in the House to-day. If such an offer had been made. Mr. * Marl in asked whether the farmers in the district, would be given an opportunity of securing supplies of timber by tender." by public auction or by newspaper advert isement. The Minister said no such offer had yet come before him, but in the event of it doing so ho would consider tho point raised by Mr. Martin.