Debate on The Kessel Libraries Act

Official report · Assembly of SchwartzistanSession 1904 · col. 9330

The Speaker: The House will come to order. The Bill stands for its third reading. The Minister.

Kurt Uhl (Minister of Education): I move the third reading. I am told the Bill is a small one. It is. Most Bills that concern children are. I read the material clause to the House. Applies to children between 5 and 11. I ask the House to pass it.

Jorn Tarn (Kesselhöh; The Reed Party): Sir, The Reed Party has read the Bill with the harvest in mind. The harvest is late this year and the causeways are under water in two districts. The schools will do what the Bill says, as they do what every Bill says, and the children will not notice. I sit for Kesselhöh. The clerks there are few and the roads are long, and any officer the Bill appoints will spend a week finding the houses. I support the Bill, with the reservation I have stated. [Shame.]

Friedl Wendl (Norrfeld; The Assembly Union): Sir, I sit for Norrfeld. The clerks there are few and the roads are long, and any officer the Bill appoints will spend a week finding the houses. The Union stands where it has always stood: for the towns, for the trade, and against any clause that begins with the word 'licence'. The material provision is this: Applies to children between 5 and 11. I ask the House to note it. The Ministry's textbooks are the Ministry's and I have no observation to make on their contents. I shall vote against the Bill. [Interruption.]

Edvard Brenn (Westgau; The Workers' Front): Sir, The mills of Kessel will feel this Bill before the Ministry does. I say so now so that nobody may say afterwards that they were not told. In Westgau, which I have the honour to sit for, the Bill will be read at the market cross and understood by half. The schools will do what the Bill says, as they do what every Bill says, and the children will not notice. I have the Bill before me and the House has it before it. I cannot vote for the Bill as it stands and I shall not.

Stellan Hernhatz (Kesselhöh; The Assembly Union): Mr. Speaker, I ask the House to consider the tradesman who will have to comply with this. He has not been consulted; he has been notified. The Ministry's textbooks are the Ministry's and I have no observation to make on their contents. The people of Kesselhöh will ask what it costs them, and I should like to be able to tell them. We shall divide the House.

Valter Hallin (Westgau; The Assembly Union): Mr. Speaker, The members for Westgau have met and are of one mind on the Bill, which does not happen often. The Union stands where it has always stood: for the towns, for the trade, and against any clause that begins with the word 'licence'. The schedule is plain enough. Comes into force on 1 January 1905. I am for the schoolmasters, who are underpaid, and for the Bill, which does not pay them. I support the Bill, with the reservation I have stated. [Shame.]

The Minister thanked the House for a short debate and asked for a short division.

The Speaker: The question is that the Bill be now read a third time and do pass. As many as are of that opinion say Aye. [Ayes.] Of the contrary, No. [Noes.] A division was claimed.

The Speaker: The Ayes have it. The Bill is passed and will go to the Grand Chancellor for assent.

The House adjourned at the rising of the court.