EXEMPTION QUESTIONS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 14439, 27 October 1917, Page 8

EXEMPTION QUESTIONS.

CLERGY AND TEACHERS

COUNOIL REJECTS W^OiLFJ CLAUSE; : ' ■ • (Prona -Our ,P«\ififtaentaty Reporter.) ' WELLINGTON, this day. The Legislative .Council, m considering the Expeditionary Force Amendment Bill last ' nig-ht; devoted attention solely to the exemption clause, which it struck out, .thus eliminating wholly the exemption either of clergy or teachers. A conference will follow between both Houses, and" as .the, : division was taken when" there -was only a small attendance of the Council, probably some compromise will be evolved. " '

Sir- Rrancis Bell, m moving the second reading of the, Bill, said ,i that speaking with a knowledge ■of years of experience as Minister of Education, he ■believed the education 1 's'ei'Vice- had leached a point at which; further deple-* tion of the primary ' and secondary schools' staffs should "he prevented.- .The •contention would be raised --that' the exemption covered' -a. class' of "persons for wTiom it would have been > difficult to obtain direct exemption. In the presence of such differences as' existed ■ ore the subject, it was manifest 1 that rtri attempt to single out a section 'of teachers would have met with', strong oppositions Were members prepared to say; that all teachers m ' primary "and sec6ndary; schools were to be .'placed'. in'- -a 'position equal to that of the 1 ! last 'irian on the/ farm? Teachers were necessary ''unless education were to cease ■' 'during 1 He'" war;' Male teachers were essential ■cr : *.h children of certain ages; and: if this wore admitted then there was no reason why the Marist Brothers should not stand m the same 'position as State rschool teachers. He sincerely hoped the Council -could disclisa the" matter without that ; hateful religious bitteimess which was a. most distressing ■'■ f'enture of political life. S nreVy it fonld Hot be said our schbbls : were on the same level as ordinary schools? ■'•■".' ' '-..-' Mr ' Earnshaw ;' suggested that ' the leader of the ' Council -could be as adroit as- he could be straightforward -• -when it suited liitn^ It. t^as- his : duty to put throtign t"K6 measure -'as' it . psS&b<3 ° ? - the Lower House, and he" had" njade an able speech : with' 1 which, he .(Mr.;fiavnshaw) absolutely' 'disagreed: '■• ITfld : the BilL come from r -the Lowe? ! Hbusc out the;- teachers* exemption clause,- he would have done his best to put it through.^: ; (Hear. r-hear.);jjr"^-.'.'',i.v Sir Francis Bell : ThatV no reason, for disregarding . my. .argument,.. . A PARTY ~DWp*&s/ jMt -Earnshaw, continuing,. said that ip order to exeinpjt. .^ . mciv r f rom serving, ii pt '■ m the trenches,' but !. in -.som c, noncombatant. v^r^Vii'^C^dnde'dided to exempt an enpi'mous" number o f pother persons.. ,This,. shpWe.d. we epprinous. influence of .a ; .cert ai^ . .^ectidn. . ; ; VV here was the .do.ctvine'roj ; t^e.;l%tii. mart and the last; :»hiUinfit. TbJoughlj.thet Jea'det of the Cbuncil lippef' sectarianism,^puld, not be introducedj 'yet .what,, was ;s.ee'n jn the Lower .House'? ;The.V ,jS|yision on the qu.estiori, wa^ ;abspju,telyVo"n party lines,; Minister and ■- , jheinjj^.rs ■•. ;b.eing divided , Liberals aiid^. Labor «gairist . '. Re» for^n, : excepfc for a few x^feach sidel H* intended iii cipmmitte© ,'^tp' move , the striking gut pi* tW clause. ;".- -,-_■..■ ; Mr slcGregbr 'suggested that'thel .exemption , of, teaolier.BJWasi.BQlely proposed m the interests of tlie Marist Brothers. The new claus^ raised- 4 j distinctly dts» I honest issue^ for the inclusion of primary and ,seoon,dary,iqschoo|. .-teachers was simply 'to cover ' up tne^real purpose. Though he would vote, against the clause he would not mind supporting a straightfonvard' proposal i^to... exclude ... ..^llarist 'Brother^. -„, , ■■■ "\ : - ■.'.'<.. ...vV'vV *-':'''"■ :; " : :Mr J\ G* ■W. Aitken jvemar^Bd,: that the Wellington ' board ; was. gstit»g:. : very short of male teachers. Tiey CouJ4-? fc *^ draw on a few superannuatedir-rjiien;. as/ well as ( a ,number. -cjf : womep. wife, were teachers befoiie they?Trefe .married. . vThe most urgent need. w&s\ to release men for military serviceii th.e.^hopeKjjf; bringing the war to a speedy 6nd,, " .. Air G. Garsonrobjected,.)tQ/.the exclusion, of ariy J class., .^ai" a ,cla.s^-",He felt indignant that; , the" esemplK>n ; of teachers' cl&use was, ii!ot, m. '■$£ T&ll .as the Government framed it. •: i : i '..'

. Sir Francis Bell, m reply, it was an Open secret since . thie • division, that Ministers were, not agreed upon this -prch vision for the exemption . of . teachers, but he .to assure, the Council that from the first he. ?and'the Minister of Education had unsweryingly adhered, to the principle % of exempting teachers. If Mr . would exempt Marist Brothecs it. was .beoause they were essential. Surely therlsame things applied to State -school teachers. „' - -. ..

The.'BilL. was read a second tune, on the, voices* .... ;. : „.

In committee, i> wljen .thel • clause, was I'ieachedj Ji'rancis Bell moved, -to add to the.. teachers!. < ; clause provision r that, it applies . to . those .who are teachers' at the time of the! passing of the .Act, -and .continue to be teachers. • ... .... ; ' „ .,,.'.- ' ;..'.' ' ? -.. ..;■ • Mr Barr asked -why ; the. Goyefnment was. not consistent in - ; applying the clause to, all teachers, whether. in camp' or .sphool. . , ... ■,»,;..,].,, .:■■■' ■ Tlie amendment > was, accepted; . ,- Mr.. J. 'G. ., W.~. . Aiken /moved -to,> delete the teachers' exemption clause; .but,subsequently iwaived m? order tp divide the Council on the retention of the., whole clause. ■- : ..-..'.. ..^ Sir William Hall-Joiles pointed out tliat' siaughterm'en' and ma^iy other; works were exempted, and why should members.regard teachers, ofvless.; importance. On a division -the whole ' clause providjng for the exemption of clergy and teachers was rejected by 11 votes to 4, the division being ir-r- ; Ayes: Bell, Paul, 'iMaghitunty, HallJ0ne5...... ' .' ■ -'..^ ...:■ ",,' .-[■,: ,;.,, '.','. .> ' ' Noes : Aitken, ,^arr,y^udhaloan, Carson, Morgan, 'Cfojfrnp, .Earjishiiw, •^Joore, MacGregpr,,, Sipapson, ;i!VfaqGipbpn. -. ; Tine leader.xif jth^^uncil.mjoved ,tp report progress, -Agreed to.