PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 438, 22 September 1877, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

♦ (i:v tki.i:<;i;ai'Jl. ) ♦ Wici.i.inct.iN, September 22. In the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon, Mr. Whiraker in reply to Gishorne, said the Government, had no intention al present, to extend Sir .lulius Voxel's tenure of oiiice as Agent-General beyond the term originally specilied longer than was necessary to make arrangements for supplying his place. The second reading of the Imprest Supply Mill No J5 was laid on the table, with a balance-sheet of the expenditure for the current year up i "v 17th ilist., when there, was only a •' ."."O. The bill was read a sr Mr. Rarlf thought !i • • • i- • ii money was asked s' : •' • Mr. Rolle.-ton t. l ited that a Supply T. m . ' i for without any exi■~i.«n. •>? ;>.iy ••> assion having taken '' > •t<' ■ • :• polie.-y of the (<■ >vei" . v : •••'»: . e money must lie gr ; 1 i ; < '. >' '■ ; right that, the extrao ■ ; i should be

[idintiul o.i■ . Mr. Cuivtiii said i : >• ; v rnmciit wore not responsible for the financial policy not having been discussed. The financial StatviiK lit was this year made earlier than ever before. List year the first Imprest Supply Hill "as half a million, and the second a quarter of a million. Tiiis year's two first. Imprest Supply Mills were only a quarter of a million. Money w;:s urgent]v required, as L2r>.ooo had to be sent liouic for immigration purposes.

Mr. Montgomery pointed out that, it was impossible to discuss the finance of the country till the Public Voiles estimates and a statement of the Provincial liabilities were before the House. Mr. I>oweii said more detailed information than ever before given was before the House already. Tliev hau all totals, and wotdd have details as soon as the tiovernment obtained them. The House then went into Committee on the Dill, which was reported, read a third time and passed.

Clause 8 of the Education Bill was then considered in Committee of the whole House.

Mr. Bowen proposed that tlic tyrant from the Consolidated Fund lie made L 3 1-ia. per head instead of L 3 ICM.; the amount, required for the ordinary repairs, t£e., of school houses to supply the place of the capitation tax. It would lie asked for by a direct vote instead of under the Act. ' The additional os. proposed would be required to enable Boards to meet expenses of inspection of schools, which were now thrown on them. The amendment was agreed to, and the clause passed after a discussion.

A new clause was introduced for the exemption of buildings used for public school purposes from liability for local rates. An amendment to extend the exemption to other than public schools was lost by 30 to 13. A new clause, proposed by Mr. Carrington, fixing the minimum salary of teachers in charge of a school at Ll3O a year, was rejected by 34 to 29. The Friendly Societies Bill was again considered in Committee, and clauses 37 and 38 were agreed to. At the evening sitting, The House went into Committee on the scheduie'of the Education Bill. Mr. Bowen proposed to define the Auckland Education district by -.notting the Poverty Bay district, whic'i/ .v was intended to add to the Hawke's Bay district.

Mr. Sheehan protested against jfl and moved that the boundaries befl same as those of the Provincial distr % Sir J?. Douglas desired to nee tin ; trict north of Auckland made a »e]i Education district. Mr. Gisborne thought the Prov,| district of Auckland should be tin into three Education districts. Messrs. Lusk, Keen, and Hamlin ported Mr. Sheehan's amendment. Ultimately, aftjr a long discussi >ll { gress was reported withont any ilu * being arrived at. , The Friendly Societies Hill and tli ? dustrial a?;d Provident Societies lbll * passed thronght Committee and I'cjy third time. The Ifimatangi Crown (7ranth Hill.', read a second time and referred t> J Native Affairs Committee. The District, Railway* Hill was sidered in Committee, Mr. Pyko B(rn, h opposing t lie I Sill as I,o' giving stilli, power to County Councils. Glauses. AO were passed with alterations indict, by Mr. Ormond when moving the leading of tlO measure. Progress:', then reported. The House rose at 1.10 a.m.