Parliment.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 123, 17 October 1914, Page 8

Parliment.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph.—Per Press Association.. I Wellington, Last Night. The Council met at 2.30. LOCAL RAILWAYS BILL. The Local Railways Bill was taken, in committee. An addition to sub-clause 10 was made providtug itialt no amendment of the classification list was to affect the incidence of any special or ordinary rates pledged for the security of any loan. Clause 2 was added to by making i possible for the Public Works Department to contract with the Railway Hoard for the construction or maintenance of a railway. Clause 56 was added to by giving the Board t3ie poweTs of local bodies to take land under the Public Works Act.

Clauses 5, 65, 70, and 83 were postponed.* Progress was then reported, and leave asked to sit again. The Council rose at 3.15 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. AFTERNOON SESSION. The House met at 2.30 p.m. The Wairoa Harbor Board Endowment Bill was. withdrawn on the motion of Mr. McCallum. BUSENJEfS OF THE SESSION In reply to Sir Joseph- Ward, the Premier said the Public IWorks Statement would be laid on the loJble on Tuesday. He still thought tho House should close down this month. Discussing the business of l"i e session, the Premier said they would probaMy go< on with the Legislative Council Bill, the Land Bill, Education Bill, the Mining Bill, and the Cook Island Bills. He could not. say whether the Conciliation and Arbitration Amendmenlt Bill would be put through, tat he expected to be able t» make a more complete statement on Tuseday or Wednesday next.

EDUCATION BILL. The Houso went into committee on ■the Education, Bill. The Minister accepted an amendment from Mr. yidey giving representation to Boards of secondary and technical schools on district councils, and then A a contest as to whe.iher these councils should be set up was renewed, the Opposition dividing the House against the ■inclusion of clause 11 in th 0 Bill, like clause being rdiained by 29 to 28. On clause 12 tine. Minister, in reply to Mr. Russell, stated that for the future, the inspectors would be appointed by the Public Service Commissioners.

In clause 13 the Minister moved the amendment promised lost night, seining up a Commission to allocate not less than seven and not more than nine education djaliricts.

Sir Joseph Ward objected to tho minimum limii,, and urged that the Commission bo given a free hand in that direction, the maximum being fixed at ten.

The Minister replied that 'h t could' not accept tho (suggestion . Mr. Guthrie supported 'Bhe Minister's proposals.

MessrsHanan, Hinc, Colvin, and Okey urged the Minister to let the House fix .the number of districts once and • ail, and not refer that question to the Commission as it was bettor to settle the matter now.

Sir Joseph Ward moved (that ■there be not leas than ten education districts The amendment was lost by 33 Ho 25. The Hour j then divided on Mte Minister's amendment, whk-h was carried by 44 to 14.

Mr. Hindmar&h moved, at clause 14, to elect members of education boards l>v popular election. J

The Minister said it would cost flB - OW for rolls alone, and he could not accept the amendment, which, on a tlivision, was nogalivcd by 31' to 27. On the motion of Mr. Wit'ty stfo tlauso 5 of clause 15, struck out by the hvication Committee, .providing for Ihe election of members of urban school districts on the municipal friuiohise was reinstated. The House rose at 5.30. EVEINXG SESSION. Tli,. House mot ah. 7.30 p.m.. and resumed the consideration of the ICducaiion 11:11 m committee

Clauses 12 to 23 were'passed withou, discussion or anicndmeni.

_ In clause 24, at Mr. Ilinsell',, sum,,,, tmii the Minister agreed that the Pub- , i s l '" n ' ,c « Commiissioner JaliaJl appo : .n< to (he publio service anv person who at time of the coming into operation of Me Act, ,i B permanently omiplored by an education board, the service of such oil.eer to be deemed to be a public S er-

Mr. McCallum moved a further amendment with lllie object of retaining in the present uwtrict* the serais of the permanent officer* -of the vdu.mLions lioim-ils that may .]>,. uoolished The. committee divided on the proposal, wiiieh was defeated by 35 ■]„ 17 Some objection was Hakeii to huljelanse fi of e'ause 3S, wlrcli provided for a majority of *chool committeru i„ uroan d's'ricts to form a ww.-hine.l district. Lventually it was decided that the proportion 'should be. two-thirds instead of a bare, majority, and t ] lß cause 'thus amended wa« agreed to (Left Sitting.)