THE EDUCATION BILL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2293, 11 September 1908, Page 2

THE EDUCATION BILL.

THE GOVERNMENT’S REVERSE

(Special to “Times.”)

WELLINGTON, iSept. 10.

The discussion on the Education Act Amendment Bill, which was interrupted early this morning by Hie carrying of Mr. Wilford’s amendment in regard to uniform school books, was not resumed to-day. The Bill appeared as No. 6 on the order paper, but the Bills ahead of it were sufficient to occupy the attention of the House for the whole of to-day’s sitting. No announcement has been made as to tlie intentions of the Government in regard to the reverse that it has sustained in connection with tlie Bill beyond the statement made by the Minister at "the close of the division to the effect that he would drop the Bill if the new clause was insisted upon. It may be pointed out that tlie division was on the second reading of the new clause moved by Mr. Wilford. Another motion wiil be necessary to add the clause to tlie Bill, and before it is thus adopted amendments to it may be moved. In addition to those who took part in the division,_ as shown by the lists, Messrs Herries, Poole, and Davey paired in favor of Mr. Wilford’s amendment, .and the Hon. Mr. Millar and .Messrs Bollard and Jennings paired against it; -including the Chairman of Committees ((who, of course did not vote) sixty of the eighty members of the House are thus accounted for.

Tho members absent were the Hon. W. Hall-Jones, Messrs Allison, E. G. Allen, Dillon, Duncan, W. Fraser, Hornsby, Houston, Hardy, Kaihau, Lang. Lewis, McLachlan, Mills, Ngata, Parata, Rutherford, Seddon, Stevens and Thomson. Of the eleven Opposition, members who voted or paired, only three voted for Mr. Wilford’s amendment, the remaining voting with the Government. It is expected that, seeing that so many members were absent, an attempt will be made to reverse the vote.