PARLIAMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2281, 28 August 1908, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT’S SITTING

[Press Association.]

WELLINGTON, August 27. After tho telegraph office closed on Wednesday, night, the Minister of Education said lie considered that in possessing the Inspector-General and Assistant Inspector-General the Department was iTndorstntVed rather than overstaffed.

Air. 11. Poland thought that the School Journal was a. mere palliative. The State should provide school books free of charge. .Mr. T. 51. Wilford moved the reduction of £1 in the vote to indicate that school books should bo provided free. Hon. Geo. Fowhls did not think that Education Boards should bo dissolved, but the question might arise as to whether a local body should provide a certain amount of the cost of education so as to give a sense of responsibility in the matter. 'the only argument in favor of uniform school books was tho saving of expense. In the opinion of experts it would be a misfortune to the educational system of New Zealand. The question was being fully considered bv the Government.

‘Mr. C. A. 6. Hardy was convinced that uniform school books would bo a mistake.

Tlie amendment was carried by 22 to IH.

Tho vote for training colleges and training of teachers was passed. Mr. C. A. Hardy moved to reduce the vote for public school cadets by £1 as an indication that the prizes won by cadets should he deposited in a safe place in schools or elsewhere. Tho motion was defeated by 2G to 8. In reply to Air. W. Her ncs, lion. G. Fowlds said that some of the recommendations of tho To Oranga Homo Commission were being carried into effect, before it sat.

In reply to Mr. A. T. Ngatu, Hon. G. Fowlds said that- native school teachers would be placed on tlio snino level as European teachers in the matter of salaries. The vote was passed. Tho Houso rose at 5 a.m.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. AFTERNOON BITTING. The Council met at 2.30 p.m.

Hon. AY. D. Baillie moved that the Government consider tho advisability of amending tho law relating to the registration of deaths so that every death should be certified to by a medical man after having tested the radial artery. Tho mover pointed out that statistics showed a considerable number of burials alive in England, and there were two instances in AVellington of persons who had been revived after having been certified as dead, and also one in Palmerston North. The Attorney-General said it was desirable that medical men should only give a certificate of death of a patient after a personal examination of the body. Hon. AY. E. Collins saitl that medical men frequently found people who were afraid of being buried alive. He, however, had never conio across a case where a person certified dead had come to life, nor did he ever know a medical man who did. Still, n s there might be somo slight chance of a person being buried alive, he would be glad to see an amendment in the Act in the direction indicated. In the ca-e of still-born children he thought burial should not, take place until the bodv had been seen by a medical man. Hon. AY. F. Carncross and Hon. AA . AY. McCardle had each heard of an instance in which a body laid out for burial had been revived at the last moment.

Hon. J. B. Callan moved the second reading of the Quackeries Prevention Bill, received from the House, and after a brief discussion, during which tho Attorney-General expressed general approval, it was carried on the voices.

The Town Boards Act Amendment Bill and tlio Oamam Reserves Bill were read a second time.

The Council rose at 4.15 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

AFTERNOON SITTING.

In the House Air. Remington drew the ; attention of the Speaker to the fact that a person in his electorate, standing as a Labor on ml id ate, had written him, stating that if AL-. Remington obtained a billet for him lie would not oppose the sitting member at the election. Tho lion, member jisked if that wore not a breach of privilege. Tho Speaker said it was not so, but it was objectionable.

The Oamaru Harbor Board Loan Bill and the Christchurch City Betterment Bill, were read a third time. The Opunako Harbor Bill (Air. C. ALijor), the Now Plymouth Harbor Board Empowering Bill (Air. Okey), and tho Auckland (Symonds Street) Cemeteries Bill (Air. Kidd) wero read a second tinio.

The Revenues Act Amendment Bill (Sir J. G. AVard) was read a second tune pro forma. Tho Police Offences Amendment Bill was committed, clause 3, giving a definition of indecency, being struck out.

Air. T. Iy. Sidey proposed a new section to prevent Sunday trading by small shopkeepers, but the amendment was lost.

The Taupo No. 2 Block Bill was committed, and the House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. •,

EVENING SITTING

The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. The Taupo No. 2 Block Bill passed the committee stage. The Town Boards Amendment Bill was committed. . Mr. F. Mander moved the following new clause: The provision of section 104 of the Public Health Act, insofar as they limit the amount for separate rates that may be made, shall notapply to any town district. Hon. J. A. Millar objected on the ground that it would take town districts from the operation of tlie Public Health Act. ~~ Eventually Mr. Mander withdrew the proposed new clause in favor of the following drafted by the Minister: “In any district in which there are no sewerage works, it shall be lawful for the Board, in lieu of a sewerage rate under section GO of the Public .Health Act, 1908, to levy a uniform annual fee on the occupier of every property on which a house is erected, but such fee shall not exceed, £1 on each occupied preparty.” The clause was agreed to, and progress was reported. In moving in committee on the Education Bill, Hon. G. Fowlds said that the measure made a great improvement in the Education Departon-t, and would make a groat improvement iii the education system of the Dominion. Its objects were to improve the status of teachers and increase the staffing of schools, and both would be to-1 ho benefit of the educational system. It was advisable to limit the number of uncertificated .teachers and encourage teachers to go in for certificates. The training colleges, ho believed, wore capable of training all teachers required for the Dominion. The proportion of male teachers was satisfactory. The new scale provided not only for an increase of salaries, but for a hotter system of promotion. Mr. Fowkls quoted statistics showing that the salaries paid in the Dominion compai-o favorably with those paid in England. Further, it was provided that no teacher’s salary should be reduced for two years after the grade laid been decreased owing to a fall in the average attendance. The Minister contended that tho average attendance was tho best basis on wlneli to calculate the size and importance of a school, but pointed out that salaries did not, under the present regulations, vary with variations ill the average attendance. The .largest proportion of increased salaries provided by the Bill was naturally given to those in smaller schools. The Bill provided a fixed salary for teachers in schools with over nine children. One feature of the Bill was that the salary increased oven though the teacher remained in tho same position. No schenie of promotion of teachers could possibly succeed unless Beards had power to transfer teachers. He maintained the committees would be in a [ bettor position than before. It was

a legitimate. thing to trust Boards with tho powers contained in the Bill. They would not dare do anything improper. Teachers lmd to bo chosen with consideration for particular positions. It was proposed to substitute adult for pupil teachers, as when tho second schedule came into opera Hon it would be necessary to have 725 adult teachers.

Mr AY. F. Massey congratulated the Education Committee upon the work it had done on the Bill, though ho did not pledge himself to support all the details. More attention should bo devoted to increasing salaries and less to increased staffing. IT New Zealand wanted men with brains she must pay for them. The abolition of pupil teachers was a grave mistake. A defect in the Bill was that increased staffing placed a greater strain on the superannuation fund without provision to meet it.

Mr. Buddo gave general support to the Bill.

Mr. A. S. Malcolm thought tho Bill was in many ways disappointing. The position of the teachers was pitiable, and lie was strongly opposed to making salaries dependent on ail average attendance. Tlio debate was adjourned on tho motion of Mr A. Kidd, and tho House rose at 12.25 a.m.