DOMINION PARLIAMENT

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18797, 19 November 1932, Page 5

DOMINION PARLIAMENT

EDUCATION PORTFOLIO. AMENDMENT. AS VOTE OF NO-CONFIDENCE. DEFEATED BY 34 TO 24. (Times Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Friday. By 34 votes to 24 an amendment to reduce the estimates of the Education Department by £lO as a protest against the portfolio of Education being held by a member of the Legislative Council was defeated in House of Representatives this afternoon. The amendment was moved by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr H. E. Holland, and in replv the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, stated that he took it as an amendment of no-con-fidence. Mr H. S. S. Kyle (Government—Rlccarton), Mr A. J. Stallworthy (Government —Eden), Mr A. M. Samuel (Government —Thames), and Mr E. T. Tirikatene (Independent .—Southern Maori) voted with Labour. In moving that the vote be reduced as an indication that the Minister of Education should be in the elective chamber, Mr Holland said he was making no attack on the holder of that office, the Hon. R. Masters. Apart from that, however, it was a grave disability for the Minister not. to be available when education estimates and other educational matters were before the House. The chairman of committees, Mr S. G. Smith, said he doubted whether he could accept the amendment in that form. The difficulty could he overcome by moving simply that the vote be reduced. Mr Forbes as Substitute. Mr Kyle said he intended to support the amendment. At a deputation a few days ago the Minister had stated that he represented the Department when asked the reason for the absence of the Director of Education, Mr T. R. Strong. The position was now reversed, and they had the head of the Department in the chamber, but no Minister. “We have the Prime Minister as a substitute,” declared Mr Kyle. A member: And a good substitute too.

Mr Kyle said he took it as a personal Insult to be told that members of the House of Representatives were not capable of handling the portfolio of education. There were two exMinisters of education In the chamber, Mr R. A. Wright (Government —Wellington Suburbs) and Mr 11. Atm.ore (Independent—Nelson). In addition Mr Smith was chairman of one of the most important education boards in the Dominion. There were also other educationists in the House. “It Is a personal insult to European and Maori members alike,” declared Mr Kyle. Mr Samuel said he supported the opinions, expressed by Mr Kyle. The education portfolio should be held by a Minister who was not only directly responsible to his own constituency, but to the popular chamber. In 11 Another Place.” In reply Mr Forbes said It was not unusual for a Minister of Education to be in “ another place,” and even since he had been in the House he could recall several occasions on which Ministers had not been in the House. Jt would be very unwise if the Prime Minister were deprived ol’ using Lhe best men available for the position. At a time like the present, when there was a great deal of difficult work to do, surely a Prime Minister should bo at liberty to utilise the services of one who was so fitted to hold the portfolio. Mr Masters had had a long experience of education, and the fact that he was Minister of Education was not Impairing primary or secondary, education in any way. If there were a feeling that his Judgment was not right he would immediately accept the amendment as a vote of no-confidence. The present Minister was a man of experience, and he had a difficult task. He did not think that anyone had suffered bocause the Minister was not in the ohamber, and matters that had been raised had been expeditiously dealt with.

Dealing with criticism of the school books contract Mr Forbes said that before the contract had been entered into Mr Masters had placed all the papers before Cabinet, which had approved what had been done. As Prime Minister lie would not have sanctioned anything likely to increase the charges for school books. The contract had been a beneficial one for parents of school children. The contract was a found one approved uy Cabinet and himself.

CLOSING TRAINING COLLEGE'S. PROTEST IN HOUSE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Friday. As a protest against the closing of the training colleges at Wellington and Dunedin, Mr F. Jones (Labour —Dunedin South) moved to reduce the vote of the Education Department by £9 in tho House of Representatives to-day. Mr Jones said the estimated saving by closing these two colleges was £14,000, whereas tho Otago Education Board had submitted a scheme whereby it would be possible to save £17,000 and still keep the four colleges open. The amendment was defeated by 36 votes to 24. Mr J. A. Macpherson (Government —Oamaru), Mr E. T. Tirlkatenc (Independent Southern Maori) and Mr H. A. Wright (Government—Wellington Suburbs), joined Labour members in supporting it,

END OF SESSION. EXPECTED IN THREE WEEKS. (Special lo 'Times.) WELLINGTON, Friday. Although the session is expected to end in about three weeks, the Government lias made no move to institute Monday sittings. 'The Prime Minister, Mr Forbes, said Ibis evening Hint Government Mils would be discussed On ’Tuesday, probably in the following order:—Urban Farm Land Belief. Hospitals and Charilable institutions Amendmeiil, and National Expenditure Adjustment. Amendment.