THE HOUSE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1210, 19 August 1911, Page 7

THE HOUSE.

TREATMENT OF MENTAL DEFECTIVES. f INANCES OF FRIENDLY SOCIETIES ' AMENDMENT OF PATENT LAW. : Tho House of Representatives met at 2.30-p.m. The ■ Following Bills were read a first timo:—Heathcote County Boundary Bill : (Mr. Laurenson), City of Christchurck Empowering Bill (Mr.-Davey). The following Bills were read a second time pro forum, and referred to tho Mines Committee:—Mining Amendment Bill (Hon. R. M'Kenzio), Coal Mines Amendment Sill (Hon. E. M'Kenzie). Tho following Bills are to bo introduced on Tuesday:—Auckland University College Amendment (Mr. Fowlds); TJniversity of Otago Council (Mr. Fowlds); Franklin and Mamihiu Counties (Mr. Massey); Universal. Saturday Half-Holi-'■day (Mr. Laurenson). . '■ : The Stone Quarries Amendment' Bill (H6n. T. MTvenzie) was read a J second time.without.discussion " ■.....: I MENTAL DEFJCILYES BILL. ! REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE. ' The House went into Committee on the < Hental Defectives Bill. ' Clsuso 5, Sub-clause G, was amended to i provide that a magistrate, committing a 1 mental defective, may accept a. medical ' certificate.' from a practitioner, provided ' always-that the latter is not prohibited from signing. Minor amendments were made in a /number of clauses. The following new sub-clauses were add<ed to Clause 137:(10) Every order. for the payment of money made under Section 3i of the Lunatics Act, 1908, shall be deemed to be a maintenance order made by a.magistrate- ' the Destitute Persons Act, 1910, and the provisions of that Act sliall apply accordingly., . new clause was added to the Bill:— (a) IsVorder shall he made under Section 19 hereof for the reception of a sioglo patient in,'any house aud no licoase shall be granted under Section H hereof in respect of any institution unless the magistrate (in the first-mentioned case) or tho Inspector-General (ia the Bleep ng acconimoflation to bo set-apart 'SSOTs'.r , for ea< * »*~ and m—t of tho day or livin' rooms of finch institutions the aggregate ihfor space thereof shall bo no t l?ss tlwn i"rtv square feet.for each ocoupant." Ur DunSse^rL^teSinipf The Hon. 6. FOWLDS objected that it jrould.be unwise to make a nard and fa rule apply to public institutions as there were occasions when it was absolutely necessary to admit-patients whatever the . existing accommodation might be was'rejected , The Bill was reported with' amendments. FRIENDLY SOCIETIES' AMENDMENT 61 L'L. • ■ . IN COMMITTEE. W i le s-ii the I'' ri endly Societies' . Amendm M i,« 3ubmltte 'l in Committee,' Mr MASSE!' asked whether tho bill had been submitted to the leading men among tho Druids. Ho was thinking c( tno very strong objections that had been put forward last year when a Bill was introduced by the same lion, member, and wondering whether this Bill might not have aroused similar objections. The Hon. J. A. MILLAR said the Bill was based on the representations of a deputation from practically tho whole of tho Inendly Societies except tho Druids. That Order was not present. It had r-ieii the one dissentient. Ho had since mot members of tho executive of this particular Order. They had stated if Section 2, sub-clanso i (providing for tho registration of societies providing for a benefit by means of an "equal levy") wpro struck out, no legislation would bo necessary, as they were themselves doing away with tho "equal levy." It was agreed that Section 2, sub-clause i, should bo struck out. Section 3 provides that advances of societies' funds shall not exceed two-thirds of tho value of tho foenritv. Mr. 0. L.VUKEXSOX (Lyttelton) remarked that tho Stnto advanced money up to three-quarters tho value of the security. It seemed unnecessary to tio the societies down to two-thirds. Tho Hon. J. A. MIT.LAIt said lie wag not inclined to go past tho provision in the Bill. This, ho understood, was all that the trustees desired to have authority fo?. Mr. LAIiEBXSON contended that threofourths would I:o a «afc. limit of security. Tho trustees of friendly societies were, careful men, who might be trusted to Iconduet their own business. Tho Hon. .1. A. MILLAR said that the existing provision had boon asked.for in 1909 by til? friendly societies against their own trustees. Tho limit Hion fixed had lieen found lo be a littlo low, but not a singlo objection to the Bill before tho House had come from any friendly society, with the exception of a telegram hn had received asking thnt contributions of new members 'mijjht Ijp increased. The Government had..'no desire to interfere . with the trustees. The Bill was reported with amendments.

PATENT LAW. SOME NEW PROVISIONS. Tho lion. J. A. MILLAR, moving the second reading of the Patents Design? and Trade Marks Bill, remarked that many alterations in patent law had occurred throughout tho world during the past few years, but nothing had been done in New Zealand. This was in the main a consolidating measure, but it contained one or two new provisions that wero important. Somo years ago, Germany, France, and other European countries bad passed a law which nullified a patent if it were not worked in that country within a given time. .In l!) 07 a similar Act had been passed in Great Britain. Kiter it was adopted in the Commonwealth, and it was proposed that it should now bo passed in New, Zealand. Tho Bill, like the English Act, would provide that a patent granted in New Zealand and not worked in four years might bo revoked. vision had been made whereby the holder of a patent might issue a license to a representative in this country to work it in his interest. ;'

Mr, R. A. WRIGHT (Wellington South) thought the Bill should lie referred to a committee- before it was passed. It might be difficult in some cases to apply the main provision—that patents protected hero must bo worked here.. For instance, what about linotype machines? The Minister should take the evidence of these who wero interested in patent rights, and this could only be done by referring the Bill to a committee. Mr. C. H. POOLE ■ (Auckland West) said the passage of the Bill would help the country to be oven more self-contained than it was at tho present time. Mr. J. STALLWORTHY (Kaipara) sai<l the Bill deserved the support of every member of the House.

Tho Hon. J. A. MILLAR declined to accept the suggestion of fjie member for Wellington South that he should send the Bill to a committee and call evidence. The people who would give evidence were interested patent agents. This.law simply followed on the law of Great Britain and of the Commonwealth. If it was good enough for the Commonwealth, presumably it would serve in New Zealand. Dispatches had been received asking New Zealand to bring her patent law into line with that of Great Britain. The Bill was read a second time.