EVENING SITTING.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5729, 26 October 1905, Page 7

EVENING SITTING.

•The House resumed at 7.30. EDUCATION ACT. Some discussion took place in committee on Mr Sidey’s proposal. Mr Soddon said ho was not a believer m the powers of school committees being curtailed. Ho favoured a proposal in the direction of allowing a committee to select two out of four or more candidates for a teachcrship sent on by the 'Hoard, and in the case of less than four candidates, to select one for recommendation to the Board for appointment. Ho moved a new clause in that direction. This was agreed to, and as this amendment met the object of Mr Sidey’s proposal, the latter was not pressed. Replying on the third reading, the Minister of Education expressed his pleasure at getting this important bill through. Altogether it increased the salaries of the teachers of the colony by £30,000, of which £SOOO. went to ipupil teachers. The bill also improved the position of female teachers, and, in addition, gave encouragement to male 'teachers in the profession. The bill was read a third time and toaseed. NEW BILLS. Ihe Civil Servants’ Classification Bill and the Railways Authorisation Bill t Ware introduced by Governors message end read a first time. In regard to the last-named bill, the Minister for Railways said it -was ro-

quhed in order to enable certain departmental work at Ne.w Plymouth to ho carried out. Tho railway there flow ran through the main street. Li its present position it was very dangerous, and it was nccesxary to make a deviation involving a cent of about .tin,ooo, against which must bo placed the amount to he realised from the sale of tho land through which tho raihvay now run. Air Aitken asked if tho Alinister did not 'dunk tho running of tho train between To Aro and Thorndou was equally dangerous? Sir Joseph Ward said the section between To Aro and Thorndou was serving 'a very useful purpose, and was very valuable to many artisans, who found it a groat convenience in going to and from work. This section was not on al! fours with that at New Plymouth. NAVAL DEFENCE. Mr Scddou moved the second reading of the Australian and New Zealand Naval Defence Bill. Ho explained that tiie principal object of the bill was to vary the agreement previously existing. It made no alteration financially, but only dealt with the class of cruisers to he employed on the station, a superior squadron to that which was on the Australasian station formerly. Tho recommendations were made by tho Lords of the .Admiralty, and had the sanction of tin: Imperial Government. Thin was a very largo question, which ho did not iuieml to go into at this stage of tho session, but in view of the altered conditions. it was a matter that would bo opened tip later on, and, they would then deal with it in a manner which, lie believed, tin: House and country would agree to. In (lie meantime, ho asked tiie ITonso to agree to tho proposals contained in tho bill.

Air Alassey said ho was glad to hear that there was likely to ho an improvement in tho class of ships on tho Australian station. Ho believed the time would come when this colony would ho called upon to increase its contribution towards tho Australian squadron, and ho further believed tho colony, when that time came, would be quite willing to do its share. The second reading was carried on tho voices, and tho bill was put through committee without amendment. TARANAKI SCHOLARSHIPS. Tho Taranaki Scholarships Bill was put. through committee without material amendment. MINING ACTS. In committee on the Aiming Acts Amendment Bilk a new clause was added by 31 votes to 13, on the motion of Air Guinness, adopting tho principle of oight hours bank to bank. The bill was put through its final stages. OTHER BUSINESS. /The Australian and New Zealand Naval Defence Bill and the Taranaki Scholarships Bill were read a third time and nassed. Tho Ellesmere Lands Drainage Bill ami tho Queenstown Reserves Bill were road a second time. At 1.10 a.m. the House rose until 11 a.m.