THE HOUSE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1816, 31 July 1913, Page 8

THE HOUSE.

Tlio House of Representatives met at " Mr. P r! SCOTT (Otago Central) gave notice to ihtrodnee tho Western Taieri Land Drainage Bill. VACCINATION RISKS. Mr. L. 51. TSITT (Christchurch North) addressed a. question to tho Minister for Public Health without notice. He read the-followin? paragraph (a press message from Hastings) published in The Dominion yesterday:— "A particularly sad case (which may or may not bo attributed to vaccination) .is reported. A twelve-year-old girl, daughter of Mr. Bnllen, of this town, was vaccinated ten days ago. At that time she was apparently in her usual good health. On Sunday she was taken ill, and on Monday morning fell into convulsions, from which she never recovered. It is stated that the child's death was not attributable to vaccination, but, as an inciuest is to take place to-morrow, a more definite pronouncement may then be mode." Mr. Isitt said that though the child's death were duo to vaccination that would not necessarily discredit vaccination, but the element of risk connected with vaccination should be known and he asked that the Government should be represented at the pending inquiry so that tho actual cause of death might be made known. The' Hon. K. H. ERODES said that on reading the paragraph he had decided that a full investigation should be made. The Government would be represented at the inquiry. Mr. Isitt asked whether a pronouncement would bo made as to whether vaccination contributed in any way to tho death .of the child. They might get a medical verdict that death was not duo to vaccination, and yet vaccination might havo contributed to tho dentil. Mr. Rhodes said that a full inquiry would, of course, disclose that informal tion, NEW BILLS. The Lyttelton 'Harbour Board Land Bill (Mr. Nosworthy) was read a first time and referred to the Local Bills Committee. Tho Municipal Corporations Amendment Bill, introduced by the Hon. A. L. Herdman, was read a first time.