PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 422, 4 September 1877, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

(P.Y TELEGRAPH.) Wellington, Sept. 4. In the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon, The Premier, replying to Mr. Macandrew, said that tenders had been accepted for the construction of the missing link of the Christchurch and Invercargill railway. The debate on the Education Bill was resumed by Mr. Pyke, who said lie would support it if its main principles were limited, but objected to making education a State monopoly. The Bill had given rise to general dissatisfaction throughout the Colony in regard to the Bible reading clause. He objected to the dominant sect of the country outraging the religious feelings of other's. The Catholics and Jews were outraged by the State attempting such a thing, and, as a Protestant, he protested against it. He Paid the education districts siiould be smaller. Taking the educational district in the province of Otago, the interior population would not consent to be governed in this matter from Dunedin. He would support Mr. Curtis' amendment if the provision about the Board approving of the books were omitted. Captain Russell thought compulsory education was absolutely necessary, and that the capitation fee was not a hardship. He did not approve of the partial religious education provided by the Bill, and it was a mere farce to forbid all the Bible reading and prayers in the public schools. He would support Mr. Curtis' amendment from a conviction that in duty he was bound to consider the feelings and convictions of a large proportion of the community. He regretted that the endowments were not nationalised, and by extra reserves those in the North equalised with those in the South.

Mr. Seymour objected to the capitation fees going to local committees as unjust

to small districts. He would vote against the Bible clause, and support Mr. Curtis' amendment.

. Mr. Bunny said he would not oppose the second reading, but in Committee he would support Mr. Curtis' amendment, and if that was lost he would oppose the Bill.

Mr. Montgomery thought the Bill a well-considered one, but he objected to the mode of electing the Boards. He thought teachers should be appointed on the recommendation of local committees, and doubted whether the district high schools would prove satisfactory. He opposed Mr. Curtis' amendment clause. It would not only affect the Catholic schools, but call into existence a number of other small denominational schools, which it would be impossible to carry on efficiently or economically. He would in every way vote against the capitation tax. Mr. G'ibbs would support Mr. Curtis' amendment, as the system had so long worked successfully in Nelson. He objected to the compulsory clauses. Mr. Manders thought the district too large, and that e-ntral boards would be too much inclined to encourage high schools to the neglect of elementary requirements. Mr. Tole opposed the Bill generally, as it would be unjust to a large section of the conimuniiy, who could not come under its provision. He said that instead of ignoring thos-j who had helped thousands in "" education, the Government should assist and encourage them. He objected to the compulsory clauses, and denied that the Bill was secular, it was sectarian in a most obnoxious form.

The debate was interupt jd by the usual adjournment for dinner. On the House resuming, the debate was continued.

Sir George Grey thought that education and charitable institutions should have been both inchuh d in one measure. The Bill was a wicked proposal to introduce religious d'.ssentions, and set class against class. It would make the poolpay for educating the children of the rich. He objected to reducing everything to a dead level. He opposed the conscience clause as inflicting an injustice upon a large section of the community. He regretted that provision for secondary education had been totally neglected, and said that the provisions regulating scholarships and reserves was unjust, A system of Statu education should bo absolutely free. No provision was made for orphan and destitute children, except in another monstrously unjust Bill. He protested against hurrying a Bill through the House which would place 80,000 people under a deep sense of wrong. Mr. Sl:eehan thought denominational seh .nils were only possible in towns, and desired to sec the Bill made entirely secular, instead of being a miserable compromise.

Mr. Stoutthoughttheconscieiiccof those who belonged to any church deserved consideration. He urued that, it was the duty of the State to attend to secondary, as well as primary, education. He thought the Government this year should only "have brought in a Bill providing for the'inspection of schools, and the funds for carrying on the existing system. The Bill must be made purely secular. Mr. Fox urged that the Colony should learn from American experience. He thought the Bill must bo satisfactory to everyone, as they beniitted by living amongst an educated and civilised community, and therefore all should pay for education, which was done through the consolidated revenue. Those whose children were educated contributed by means of capitation. He believed the people generally desired that the Bible should be read in schools. It would be monstrous to make it the only book specially exclude d from schools. Secular schools would not meet the Catholic requirements. Mr. Curtis' amendment was pure denominationalisiu. Mr. Rowc thought the Auckland svsteni was as nearly perfect as possible. Be had never heard any complaint with reference to it, The religious clauses must be excised from the Bill in order to make it a national measure.

Mr. Woolcook strongly supported Mr. Curtis' amendment as similar to the Canadian system, where it worked admirably.

Messrs. Lumsden, Fisher, Shrimski, and W. Wood supported the omission of the religious clauses of the Bill. Mr Baigont supported Mr. Curtis' amendment.

Mr. Boweu replied at some length and acknowledged the temperate tone of the discussion. He said the Government did not dtsire to do more than was necessary at present. They desired to make the Education Boards acceptable to the people, and while avoiding the evils of local representation, were quite willing to accept .any better method of doing this. He believed the funds provided would prove ample, as buildings, inspection, scholarships, and the Normal Schools would be otherwise provided for. The L 1.00,000 for buildings would be divided according to deficiency between existing accommodation and the number of children inquiring it in each district. He did not think clause 85 would interfere with the liberty of conscience of anyone. He objected to the bigotry of secularism, and did not think any practical difficulty would arise under the Bill. Mr. Curtis' amendment was incompatible with tiie principle of the Bill, and could not be adopted. No capitation would be levied on children receiving sound education outside of the State schools.

The second reading of the Bill was carried by 41 to 6. The Census, Friendly Societies, and and Industrial Societies Bills were read a second time. The House rose at ten minutes after twelve o'clock.