PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4406, 12 July 1901, Page 7

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

SIR JOSEPH WARD. The Hon Sir Joseph Ward is still receiving congratulations from every part of the colony upon the honour he has received. Telegrams-have been received from local bodies throughout New Zealand, and of these the following nay be taken as a sample: From Mr M. Phillips, County Clerk, Greymouth—“l am directed to forward you th 9 following resolution passed by the Grey County Council at its general meeting held yesterday. 1 Resolved that this Council conveys to Sir Joseph Ward its sincere congratulations on the wellearned honour conferred on him by his Royal Highness the Duke of Cornwall and York in recognition of the faithful services rendered by him to the democracy of New Zealand, and expresses the hope that he will, in the future, as in the past, continue to merit the confidence and respect of the people.’’ From Mr J. McKinnon, County Clerk —“At a meeting of the Whangarei County Council held t-o’day .it was unanimously resolved, ' That tins Council begs to convey its sincere congratulations to you on the distinguished honour conferred on you 'during the lat 6 Royal visit-’ ”

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE. Mr Pirani’s School Attendance Bill differs only slightly from th© measure introduced last year, the alterations being made on the suggestion of Education Boards or their officers. The alterations in the existing law briefly consist of ineluding Maori and half-caste children attending public schools; the age of compulsory attendance is altered from thirteen to fifteen, and an attendance is defined as at least two hours’, instruction. Th© grounds for exemption, include residing more than four miles from a public school, or that the child cannot reach school by railway, that sickness, danger of infection, temporary or permanent infirmity or other unavoidable cause; that the child is under efficient and regular instruction elsewhere; that the road between the child’s residence and the school is not sufficiently passable, or that an inspector or headteacher has certified that th© child has passed the standard prescribed by regulations. Parents are. required to send their children to school within one-week of receiving notice to that effect; four attendances have to be made when the, school is open six times, six attendances when the school is open eight times, and eight when the school is open ten times the onus of proving that a child is not liable to attend school is placed on the parent or guardian; and provision is made for .the payment of fines into the Board fund.

THE SCHOOL CADETS. The Government has ordered light rifles for the hoys of the Sixth and Seventh Standards in the public schools. Probably about twenty of these rifles will be allotted to each school as prizes for drill, and will be used in shooting by different hoys in their turn. The ernment were met with a difficulty as to the control of the cadet oorps, since it was felt, the Premier explained yesterday. that the Education Boards might take exception if the' control were taken out of their hands. The military training of the youths of the colony, he said, ought to belong to the jjefenco Department, especially as the instructors are under the Defence Department ; but th© question is to he referred to. the Boards of Education fox their opinion. THE PREMIER AND MR HUTCHESONS There was some heat displayed at-one stage of the debat© on th® Compulsory Drill in Schools Bill yesterday. Mr John Hutcheson manifested considerable indignation because it had been asserted by Mr Thomas Mackenzie that the clause allowing for the conscientious objector should be struck out, and described such a proposal as atirooious. He urged the right of free speech, and denounced th® military spirit which, he said, had been fostered and propagated by those on the Government benches. (Laughter.) Mr Thomas Mackenzie; We don’t want any pro-Boers here. Mr Hutcheson-; If it means- th.alt cue is a pro-Boer because he enunciates such principles, I glory in th© title. The member for Wellington went on to. Say that he was on© of those who believed that organised and aggressive warfare was murder.

The Premier said that as Britishers, whenever the Empire, was insulted, and an attempt was made to obtain an advantage such as was sought in South. Africa by the Boers, the people c f New Zealand would do as their sons had air ready done. Britishers had not won their privileges by , submitting to insult of that kind, and unless they wished to become a second or third*rate Power they must maintain their rights. The member for Wellington was entitled to, his opinions, but he ought to respect the convictions of his fellow-members. By preparing for emergency, and maintaining our strength, we had the best guarantee for peace. INDUSTRIAL CONCILIATION AND ARBITRATION. Th* main object of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill, introduced by - the Premier, is to place trades unions in the game category as industrial unions. Hence they are made parties to industrial _ agreements under section 24 of the principal Act. They may be bound by awards under section 86, and by extended awards under sections 87 and 88. In addition, foreign companies may be registered when doing business in New Zealand through agents acting under powers of attorney as industrial unions J hut the prohibition by section 52 of counsel or solicitor is extended to counsel or solicitor acting under power cf attorney. The protection afforded t°. workers ' in disputes by section 100 pending the settlement is extended by the addition of the words “ or anything preliminary

to the reference of the dispute, and connected therewith.” Lastly, further provision is made for the cancellation of the registration of defunct unions.

THE WOODVELLE DISTURBANCE. The reported disturbance hy the Volunteers at Woodville in February last was the occasion of a brief discussion in the House of Representatives. Mr O’Meara repeated the charges against the Volunteers, and asked for an inquiry. The Premier stated that the police had had the matter in hand, but the offenders could not be identified. Mr Syme, wlya was on the train on the day in question, thereupon rose, and declared emphatically that the story of the disturbance was untrue; and that the Volunteers on the day in question were orderly and well-behaved. Mr Seddon announced that in view of that statement, he -would lay on the table papers dealing with th e matter. JOTTINGS. The morning sittings are to begin today. Mr Field, speaking of the Johnsonville school cadets, said their drill would be a credit to any adult corps. “ It is necessary that something should be done t PI induce Education Boards throughout the colony deal with this important matter in a uniform manner.” —Hon J. McGowan, speaking on drill in schools. '

Mr Guinness, replying to a statement that there was not sufficient interest la his Bill:—“There were twenty-six speeches on this Bill.” Mr Graham; “Yes, and only twenty-one members to listen to them.” Mr Guinness? “There were probaUly only twenty-one members at, one stage of the debate; that was when the hon gentleman himself was speaking.” The Hon F. H. Fraser, whose health continues to be precarious, was yesterday relieved from duty on the Labour Bills Committee of the Council, tjie name of the Hon A. Pitt being substituted for Mr Fraser’s on the committft©.

To-day the Hon Mr Jennings will ask the Minister for Education whether the right of giving certificates, as required by the Education Act, of pissing the standards is denied +o pupils attending any scholastic institution in the colony, thereby inflicting an injustice on som© pupils by preventing them .from obtaining employment in the public service of the ■colony? The signature of Mr Seddon, at the foot of the proclamation of the King, was, it appears, included because the Governor cabled to the Premier, who was th®n in Sydney, asking that this might be dbne. The first proclamation was withdrawn because of an irregularity, and this was the reason why a second proclamation was issued.

“Nine-tenths of the wage-earners in the towns never can save anything against old age.”—Mr John Hutcheson. Mr Pirani wants ,±he Minister of Justice to obtain a report as to the advisableness of liberating Thomas Rooney, now an inmat© of the Mount View Lunatic Asylum. If you wish to see what prosperity means, visit Rongotea, says Mr Stevens, member for Manawatu. -

Th© Premier states that it is intended to have a school oi military instruction in the colony. ‘T have had a life’s experience in country districts, and I have never heard of men in country districts complaining that their employers overworked them.” —Mr Stevens. ■

Mr McLachlan, describing Mr Thomas Mackenzie’s oratory:—“l didn’t catch his remarks,' but from his volubility and noise, I should say that he spoke against the BiU.” .

Mr Hogg, .on the, military spirit; “The army upon which we hav© to rely is the army of our producers.” Mr Wilford, to the Premier:—“ls Colonel Henry (the new Commandant) seventy years of age?” The Premier: “He was eighteen when he went into the service, and he has had twenty-two years’ service on full .pay—that makes him forty. I don’t see where th® other thirty years is to come from.”