LOBBY AND GALLERY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5678, 28 August 1905, Page 7

LOBBY AND GALLERY.

THE WEEK'S WORK. Tlio beneficent legislation by which tho State fathers the worker and keeps an inspector planted on tho doorstep to see that not more than eight hours a day are occupied docs not apply to Parliament. Parliament in this the century of enlightenment, and indulgence for tho democracy is nothing more than a lingo sweating machine for those members who care to carry the burden. Those who come under this category are very limited. Ihe bulk ol •diem invariably retire by midnight, but * handful is loft to wrestle with the affaire of State, The ventilation of the , buildings is shocking.

If tho scene that tho House presented at 3.30 a.rn. on Saturday could have boon photographed, and nil its attendant surroundings truthlully depicted, tho country would have an extraordinary notion of Parliament and its methods. But tho country can never realise tho exact nature of those methods, for the democracy is snugly ns loop when its representatives are watching the clock slowly go round h-om dinner to supper, and from supper to close on breakfast time. And the question arises, is this kind of unnatural existence necessary, with about twenty-three members in the House and the other fifty-seven in bed or elsewhere? Tho system is vicious in the extreme. 'Hie grave yawns prematurely for those who see it through.

Tho week has been chiefly occupied with tho Electoral dill, which had two long nights in committee, and the Estimates. When it is considered that the Electoral Bill contains something like two hundred and th, rljl-throo clauses, and about ono hundred and thirty clauses have been passed, it may bo said that vory fair progross has been made. I'bero was a “ ray of sunshine” after midn gilt on Thun-tlny on tiiis bill, and it was tbo only bright gleam that lightened up tho matter-of-fact proceedings. Tho leader of tho Opposition desired to show sympathy for tho patients in hospitals, and to place them on an equality in the matter of voting with Beamon and others who have tho privilege of exercising electors’ rights when away from home, He moved in the direction of giving persons incapacitated by illness the power to vote, the elector’s right to be attested by the medical superintendent. Then arose the humours of the situation.

“The lender of the Opposition would fry to kiss the nurses,” mildly suggested the Premier, who pictured the possibility of infectious disease being conveyed by voting-papers sent out from tho hospitals if such a proposal were agreed to, “We have established maternity homes,” said the Premier, jtnd, after a pause, added, “ You might prematurely fill the cradles^-you m ght not know what would happen.” After the laughter had subsided, tho member for tho Hutt imagined Mr Aitken hurrying up to the hospital on election day witii jollies and beef-tea —ho would bo invincible.

Tho Premier has had experience of electors’ rights. Ho told the House how minors’ rights were hawked about from one district to another—one could have them at so much a hundred. In one particular election, a superintendent—this was evidently in the old provincial days—was elected by an interchange of miners’ rights. Such a proposal as suggested would lead to bribety end corruption. The leader of tihe Opposition did not think it was half as bad as Ministers going about the country and promising roads and bridges. The incident related by the Premier ded (dr Taylor to remark that Mr Seddon “ in his youth must have mixed up with .some very wicked people.” The Premier did not like the idea of people being worried on sick bods by talk regarding candidates or the elections. Ml Massey was beaten by one vote—the Maori vote, he alleged, and he indicated tho possibility of trouble when the Maori representation question and its system of voting came up on this SiU.

On the Education vote, when the Estimates were under consideration, a persistent plea was put in for the conveyance of back-blocks children to school. In some districts, it was claimed, this could only be done by means of balloon. ‘‘We may have aerial cars in time,” suggested Mr Symes, “tut meantime it is the duty of the department to see that these children get primary education.” Ihe Minister of Education was emphatic on the point, (f any Board could show him that the amount allowed for this purpose was not sufficient to meet the cost of bringing these children to a central school, he was quite prepared to increase the amount, but he must first of all have rhe necessary information. If Education Boards neglected those children, it was, he thought, criminal neglect, simply because of tho expenditure of a few pounds, the Boards of Education must take the responsibility.

Members put in a claim for rural education, seeing that the cities had such advantages in respect to technical education. Mr Hogg placed a now aspect on the question. Members, he said, complained that the children were not getting agricultural education* Why, jotne children wore asleep on the forms, because they had been up at 4 a.m. •milking cows, and did not get to bed nntil 8 p.m. If that kind of practical sducation was not sufficient, he did not know what was. That was a great deal more education than they were likely to get from any schooltnatrier. Mr Hawkins wanted to know whether it was not possible to grant an allowance flor forage for horses provided by the back-blocks settlers to convey their children to school. He had seen as many as three children on one horse at s. time, going to school. The Hon Mr Duncan said he had seen four, “The condition of things at the present time fa this Chamber,” observed Mr Taylor at'3 a*m*, “reflects the condition of things prevalent in the Department, The Minister is fast asleep.” •‘No,” replied,Mr Seddon, metaphorically “winking the other eye.”* “The Education Department is in a comatose Condition,” alleged Mr Taylor. “It is •about ae near fart asleep as any department can possibly be.” The Premier, however, was wide awake, and watching things with one eye shut.

The Premier welcomed the criticism, (t showed the interest taken by memoor* in the education question. As Minister of Education, he was very much encouraged, because there seemed to be a general consensus of opinion that there should bo an increased expenditure upon education. , But, he asked, would members realise that this

session they were increasing the cost of education to the extent of IHOO.OOO? This was a very big leap. For a country like New Zealand, with its small population, that was a pretty fair increase; but he was happy to say tho finances of the colony would stand it. On the subject of rural education, ho believed they had been backward for •somo time. Nature study was a compulsory subject under the new syllabus. The first thing to do, however, was to train their teachers. The Fa-mers’ Union had asked the to assist in the matter of rural education, ami he wanted Education as well to assist in respect to this question. He believed that Lincoln College ought to bo used as a training school to assist in tho teaching of nature study and the science of agriculture, for that was whore practical knowledge could be given.

Challenged on the question that ho held too many portiolios, and could not therefore give adequate attention to the duties of Minister of Education. Air Seddon said he realised that the position of Minister of Education was the most important in the country. He thought if members were just, and would take their minds back to the last three or four years, and note what hud been done during that time, and the advance made, they would admit that a marked improvement had taken place. Comparing our position with other countries, he (I'd net think wo wore dragging behind; indeed, he believed wo had not so very much to learn.

The Education vote, like other votes, got through unaltered. The House on the Estimates in the early hours is a remarkable thing. The drowsiness and incoheroncy of members and the emptiness of the Chamber are soul-stirring.