HOUSE AND LOBBY PARLIAMENT IN PARAGRAPHS

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12251, 24 September 1925, Page 5

HOUSE AND LOBBY PARLIAMENT IN PARAGRAPHS

LOOKING AHEAD The use of the gramophone and wire less in schools in the smaller districts is advocated by Mr R. P. Hudson (Motueka), who stated that good music had a decidedly uplifting effect on the ulinds of children, while none could gainsay the value of having the pupils assembled to listen to first-class speeches from noted orators. Central schools could be established for a commencement, and to these would go the children at periodical intervals to receive this class of instruction. “In refard to wireless,” he said, “it is a it soon to expect anything; hut it is not too soon to begin thinking and talking about it.” » * • a EXPERIMENTAL FARMS It is the opinion of Mr G. NV. Forbes, Leader of the Opposition, that the various experimental farms in New Zealand are not doing as much as they should in the nature of experimental work. Since the war, he said, many had been closed down except for a few {dots. The Minister for Agriculture (Hon. W. Nosworthy): We are doing more now than ever we did. Mr Forbes: It is not so much the amount of work as the co-ordination that is wanted. When one sees these farina, doing nothing of an experimental nature one wonders why they should not he used. > > * * * * OVERCROWDING THE LAW The explanation of the Minister for Education of the fact that the law profession in New Zealand is becoming overcrowded is summed up in his states ment m the House: “The great difficulty is that anyone is to-day allowed to take home books and sit down and cram them. They get a volume of notes on the subject and pass an examination, thus qualifying for the law on the strength of it.” ** : • • HIGH SCHOOL TUITION

About one pupil in ten goes from the secondary school to the university. That is the figure of the Minister for Education (Sir Jaimes Parr), who stated that when in _ 1905 changes were made in the conditions governing admission to high schools, the whole system should have bedn reviewed. Instead of this, however, the old traditional line of tuition and examination had been followed, and armies of students had been driven into the institutions under these conditions. It was allright tor the ten par cent, who went on to the university, hut what about the other 90 per oent. who required three or four years good post primary education to finish off? • • » • ABSENT VOTERS The position of absent voters at the coming election was mentioned by Mr Holland, who said that people were changing from one electorate to another, and he did not think there was any clearness with respect to the rights of these people. Would the Prime Minister make a statement on the following day covering the rights of absent voters. Mr Coates-. I shall be glad to do it. * * * • MR ATMORE’S FUSION MOTION Mr Atmore asked’ whether the Prime Minister would treat his fusion motion as an unopposed motion and allow it to come on. - “I shall require to give some consideration to that question,” Mr Coates replied, “and I shall be glad to answer it to-morrow or on Friday.” v * • * “CROWDING THE COLLEGES” “We think we are getting the university standard of education,” said the Minister for Education, when speaking on the commission’s report, “hut we are not. We are just crowding thousands of pupils into the colleges.” A Labour member: That is better than nothing. The Minister: Certainly, hut we wish to apply it in another way. In the past our universities have been purely exam- | ining bodies. We want to make them teaching bodies. I

ELECTORAL REFORM , The Hon. J. A. Hanan asked a question in the House yesterday afternoon as to. whether electoral reform legislalation would be introduced this session. The Prime Minister replied that he took it that the question had been dealt with during the present Parliament, certainly by way -of discussion. He proposed issuing a manifesto shortly, and a very careful search might indicate the policy regarding this. A member: Might? Mr Coates (smiling); Yes. Another member: It won’t require a microscope ? Mr Coates: Possibly. Mr Coates added that it was too late tor legislation this session. * * * * MAIN HIGHWAYS Several amendments to the Main Highways Bill were introduced by Governor-General’s message, and in explanation of these the Prime Minister said there was no alteration in the apportioning of costs, and most of the amendments were purely -verbal. The Highways Board was given similar power to a local body under the Public Works Act, 1908, in initiating proceedings in the mailer of compensation and in other directions. a discussion in committee on the bill several members asked that the Highways Board be given greater discretionary powers in allocating moneys bo local bodies for maintenance. The Prime Minister, replying to questions, said the Government maintained more road in the south' than in the north. The amended Highways Bill would give local bodies valuable assistance which they did not have before. The Government provided £30,000, and those who used the roads contributed the remainder of the maintenance costs. “There is no intention to foroe money from local bodies." he said. -Mr U- G. Sullivan (Avon) sought to move an amendment to remove the restriction placed on the Highways Board in granting maintenance subsidies to local bodies. (The bill provided a limit of £ for £). This gave rise to a discussion as to whether the amendment wae in order, and the Chairman of Committees (Mr J. A. Young) ruled against the amendment, upon the Speaker being called upon to ad}udicate, he ruled that as there would be no further appropriation of the Consolidated Fuad, the amendment was in order. He supported the contention of Mr Sullivan that the board could increase ite payment for maintenance, and yet not raise its general expenditure.

TREATED AS HOSTILE Aa the debate proceeded some heated interchanges were indulged in between the Prime Minister and those opposing the bill. A remark by Mr Sidey provoked the Prime Minister to make the statement that he would treat the amendment as hostile to the bill. Mr Sidey: Do yon mean that if the Government is defeated on this; it will immediately resign? The Prime Minister.: I said hostile on the bill.

The threat of the Prime Minister to drop the bill if the amendment were carried brought Mr H. E. Holland to bis feet to exclaim that if the Government were defeated on the amendment it would mean the end of the bill, the end of the session,- and the end of the Government—the end of everything. A Labour member: The end of the world, too. Mr Holland: No. It might be a good thing for New Zealand. A joking remark by the Prime Minister that no notice was being taken of the debate by the Press was acoept«d by Mr Holland as a hint to the Press not to record the proceedings of the House, and he decried this at length, and a little later Mr W. A. Veitch (Wanganui) engaged in cross purposes with the Minister for Agriculture (Hon. W. Nosworthy), who. declared that the opponents of the hill were endeavouring to wreck it. A division was taken on Mr Sullivan’s amendment, and the clause in the hill was agreed to by 34 votes to 31.

The hill was later put through all its remaining stages.