THE HOUSE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2810, 30 June 1916, Page 7

THE HOUSE

The Houso of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. The Rt. Hon. W. P. MASSEY mado Jin explanation regarding potitions for early closing. H© said that complaints were boing received about tho alleged inactivity of' tho Government in regard to theso petitions. People making those complaints wore evidently under a misapprehension. A number of petitions had been reocived by tho Houso, but theso wero still undor the consideration of the Committeo, and not one of thorn had vet"come to tho Government. Until tho Committee reported tho Government could not act oh tho petitions. He also added that thoro was at present no clauso in tho War Regulations Bill providing for six o'clock dosing. An hon. member: But thero will -be one. Mr. H. ,T. H..OKEY, Chairman of tho Committeo dealing with the petitions, said that the delay in reporting on tho petitions was not duo to any fault of the Committee. Tho Committee was; giving up all its time to theso petitions, to the exclusion of all other petitions.. Yesterday tho Committeo had sat six and a half_ hours hearing evidence on early closing. THE ESTIMATES. INTERNAL AFFAIRS. After The Dominion went to press yesterday morning consideration of the Estimates was continuedi tho vote for tho Internal. Affaire Department boing taken. ■

In answer to Mr. Harris, tho Minister said that the experiment of a • "patient's friends"—an official go-between be-, tween the authorities and the patients in the mental hospitals—had proved so successful. that ho intended to extend the system to all the institutions. To Mr. Ell the' Minister said that plans were ready for a trial at Christchuroh of taking private patients in the mental hospitals for fees proportionate tothe work done. ;■■■ Mr. Webb advooated something in tho way of free treatment for venereal disease, which, he said, was responsible for far more ovil than, alcohol. ' Tho question had to' W faced if tho public was to be protected. He had been informed by doctors that sinco tho outbreak of war some of the most vicious forms of these diseases were active in Now Zealand, and he contended tho question should bo: faced. •■ The Minister explained that this subject was being dealt with, as also was cancer, upon which subject a pamphlet was being prepared by the medical men in conjunction with the Public Health Department. The dental conditions of the people were also being investigated, and speoial attention would be given to the dental treatment of children. He regarded this question as most important, for tho military statistics showed that many men otherwise fit were unfit for soldiers. Progress . was reported at 2.55 a.m., with .the (Internal Department's estimates agreed to, except for the items of the museum and laboratory, reports for which were not available. A LOCAL BILL. ' Tho Auckland Harbour Board Empowering Bill (Mr. A. E. Glover) was read a second time.