STATUTE LAW AMENDMENT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 17125, 29 October 1917, Page 5

STATUTE LAW AMENDMENT

THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.

IMPORTANT DECISION BY PARLIAMENT.

OTHER MATTERS BEALT WITH.

On the House resuming at 7.30 on Saturday night, The Hon. Hanan moved the secondreading of the Statute Law Amendment Bill, which proposed to legalise the ' present staffing of normal school and< tp enable regulations to be made providing direct control of such sehqols bv^ Boards instead of ochooi Committees.It was proposed to establish a few observation schools under competent head teachers, where inexperienced teachers may undergo short periods of training in teaching methods. Provision will also be made to enable technical classes at small centres to be controlled by School Committees instead of by Boards of Managers, It is proposed to make provision for securing the rights of soldier teachers on, netie serv^e^: t» safeguard the status q,f teachers a*. pointed temporarily in place of those tt the front; to psy inexperienced teao^ ei-3va salary commensurate with th«r qualifications,' and to control the staffing of schools where absolutely neces-' sary. It was also proposed' to in- > crease the salary payable te< those In charge of Grade O schools. Power to increase the incidental allowances of School Committees was being sought. Another nx<>vision was that of establishing probationary homes. Under this system the handling of young; delinquents and children generally would f . be undertaken by specially appointed officers, instead «.f by the potfqe. It' A^as proposed to extend the power of the University Senate to confer degrees on ; those enlisting to students who »i» \ called up for servige under the Act. It wag also intended to add economicsr to the list of subjects for wtieh research scholarships may be awarded. The Prisons Act would also be amended • by enlarging the functions qf Prison Boards, who iiave powers to make regulations as to «he administrataofl ot prisons/ An amendment of the Counties Act was proposed hx the direction, of preventing persons- who have made default in the payment of rates signing petitions to County Councils. 'J'here - was also in the Bill amendments oi the Defence and Land Settlement Finance Acts.

Mr Budda questioned the wisdtam ot introducing an amendment to the Education Act in the Statute Law Amendment Bill. Education was too important a subject to be dealt with in thi3 ' 'obscure way. f Mr Isitt expressed disappointment that no provision had been made in the Bill to enable the question of whether religious bodies had a right to use school buildings ?fter schooThoura for1 religious teaching. He could not understand the hesitancy of the Minister to tackle and- settle this question, which was causing a great deal of friction in some parts of the Dominion. . Mr Hindmarch. ridiculed a system of university education, which so far had;, not produced a man. who knew anything" about our forests. Ec regretted the Minister's only contribution to secondary education was a meagre proposal in the Bill. '

Various aspects of the Bill were discussed by Messrs Wright, Harrie. Me- -. Callum, Parr, Webb, Rhodes (Thames),- . m the light of local experience. After a protest by Mr Payne against •' certain features of our prison scheme, . the Bill was read a second time, and' the House proceeded to consider the measure in committee. i

Heated discussion took place over ai' ■< clause^ as to the funds ana account of Education Boards. Several members ' contended that before the Boards' svstern of keepng accounts was changed," Boards should be consulted.

The Minister replied that the clause was inserted at the instance of the Audit Department in order to Chech * ccounts by depleting one fund in order to replenish another. The clause wai m the interest of business methods. After further d'scussion, Mr Massey said that solid opposition to the clause would endanger tha whole Bill. The clause was a good one, and something of the kind was wanted. Some Boards presented their accounts very carelessly. If ,£in amendment was required it coukt be inserted in the Council. The clause was jpassed. j Hon. Hanan explained that assist- I ance to School Committees would take' the form of a- himp sum, which would i be allocated amongst the various Com-, mittees.

Clauses 10 to 16 were passed withconsequential amendments. Hon. Russell moved the withdrawal' of clauses 17 and 18, providing for^pro- : hibitmg defaulting ratepayers voting at county elections, and limiting miners"- * rights. . ■■::(.

Clause 20, providing for -military &&■ tention for evasion of territorial bcfvices, was withdraswn after some opposition had been shown to it. The Minister ihei moved a series or new clauses. Provision was made for notification of, or suspension of industrial awards to; fulcw of the employment and training or disabled discharged soldiers.

Hon. Herdraan explained that unfess this power was given it would be impossible for him to arrange to introduce discharged soldiers into trades for tuition purposes, find the wholaf would be delayed. The under-raxe permit system was useless for the purpose. Mr McCombs strongly objected to the clause until Labour Unions had been consulted, on the ground that it might undermine labour legislation. Mr Massey, on the suggestion of Mr, Veitch, agreed to have the clauss amended in the diiection of giving the Arbitration Court power to consider every case before a soldier was employed. -,'.;

'Mr Herdman said he doubted if th« system would be practicable. It it was, .he would he pleased to fall m with it.

The powers of dairy companies were extended in the direction of enabling them to purchase shares in freezing works and cool stores and refrigerating business in all branches.

A.n amendment was made in the Re* gulation of Trade and Commerce Act, making provision for restricting the increase in the price of commodities. Extension of Lime was given within which aliens in' New Zealand may relister ivnder the Legislation of Aliens

The Bill was reported with amendments, read a third time, and passed. The Reserves and Other Lands Dis-. posal Bill was received from the Legist lative Council.

On the motion of the Premier thtf amendment was agreed to. The House rose at 11.10 till 2.30 on Monday.