PARLIAMENT.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2228, 28 June 1870, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

(From the Wellington ) VAPCINATION 811/T,. Mr Pox said the. Bill was simply an amending Act. Snfill pox nad not been introduced in. a severe form into this Coloify yet, but about two ycart ago it had, "presented itself in a very formidable shape I .' It had at one time devastod a great portion of the human race. As far as an individual was con-, cerned it Was not a matter of any great, importance, hut as aTfecting a nation it be-came-a; taiatter "of great importance,.'and legislative enactment became necessary.' The bon. member traced the history of the disease, paying a high tribute to the memory of Hunter, the originator of vaccination, as a preventive of small pox. He pointed out that, the ; disease had been trodden out, and it was possible to tread out the existence of small Some of the Northern members had objected' to compulsory vaccination, but he,hoped they would see the ad-, vantages the Bill conferred. Mr Reader Wood wished to draw the attention of the Government to an important omission in the Bill, was a theory gaining grqund that if there was only to be a system of vaccination from, arm to arm it was possible a worse.disease might be introduced. It was impossible to force vaccination on people if they objected to it. If the Government introduced compulsory vaccination it was incumbent on the Goverii ment to take measures to supply pure lymph. Mr Bunnt would suggest that the Bill should be referred to a Select Committees so as to pass a Bill that would be acceptable to

allpartshf tlib Colony. Iu country districts a child might have to be brought a distance of 4 ) or 50 miles to be vaccinated, ana wouia have to pass through rivers and floods, and in doing so, might incur the danger of introducing diseases equally dangerous. Mr tJARi.BTON said the Government should, have given some information on the practical working of the Bill. He should vote for the second reading of the Bill, but thought it should be submitted to a Select Committee. The State had no rittht to enforce compliance with the Act so long a« it was possible to proem c lymph from a healthy beast. But he thought the Government was bound in making compulsory vaccination, also to introduce pure lymph. It was physically impossible that in the out districts children should be brought to the vaccinator. He thought the vaccinator should visit the children. It was only a matter of expense. Mr Travers said he would give his fullest support to the Bill in all its stages, because it was the duty of the Government to prevent the introduction of such a frightful disease He believed it would be necessary to appoint a number of inspectors to see that the provisions of the Bill should be carried out* With regard to the superstition which existed on the matter, if those who had such great fears would read the report presented to the House of Commons ou the matter, their fears Would be allayed. Whatever was the opinion of ignorant people A on the matter, they had the higher duty to perform of preventing the introduction'of such a scourge into the Colony. But in suoh a measure as this he objected to the mixing tip ’ of Provincial and General Government functions. For instance, some of those Provinces which were short of money would be unable to provide the necessary funds for carrying this measure into effect. With regard A to penalties, he did upt think parents shqfiid have option, by'paying a line, of evading the provisions of the Bill. He would make the tines continuous from mouth to month, and year to year. He did not think ignorant persons should be allowed to oppose their ignorant prejudices to the welfare of the State. Works which he had read proaed that objections to vaccination arose from sheer ignorance. It was not ueccssary- that the vaccinator should be a medical man. He saw no reason why in' the country persons who were competent should uot be appointed, He hoped Government wopjd not allow ignorant opposition to weigh with them.

Mr Mervyn could say from experience that, the Bill in its pregenfc form would -be absolutely unworkable. : ’ Mr Gillies said the Bill', as fore the House, :woulil be utterly' iißelesrf in the ■ country distHcts.v iHe' toljjected to the wholesale .introduction of English Acts without any regard to the interests of the Colony. ... . . ; Mr J, C. Richmond said that portions of the report to the House of Commons should be printed and circulated throughout the Colony. The difficulty was one of money in a great, respect,. He had seen in one’Province, . where the' provision, of the existing Bill had absolutely broken down from want of funds. If it was to be compulsory, they must compel the administration of'the Act as well as the compulsory vaccination of the children* ' Mr Fox was*quito prepared to refer the Act to a Select Committee. The Bill was then read a it was; agreed that it be referred to a Select' Committee, i- 1 STATUTES OF SK\V ; Mr RickMOND asked theHon.tlie Fre mier * ‘ Whether the reprint bf thqiNeyg £ea« land Statutes Eas heexi heexi begmy' aqd when it "is liljbTy to be completed ?” He' thought this was a ifikftbr which required immediate attentiom He thought that if the reprint; were, the. repealed Statutes should be differently printed. It would not cause a great expense to reprint the ffrsf three volumes. ; Mr Fox had not an .opportunity of ascertaining whether aqy aotiqn had been taken. It was very desirable that the .reprints asked tor by the bon. member should be macle, hut whether the Government would be able to see-their way to apcomi dishing it ? he was not at present prepared to say, intestate Estates billl " • ‘ # Mr Fox, in introducing this Bill, said ■''ifq': object was to facilitate the disposal of the property of prisoners, lunatics, &c., where property was of small amount—where. it. might consist of a watchj a snuff-box, ora pocket-knife—and to i avoid expensive ad mi* nistratiou the Witter..,, , ' The Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be committed on next sitting day. THB TELEGRAPH. ' Mr Vogel moved—-That a Select ;Cam» mittee ho ’appointed to ( ;inquire. into Jim. subject of CQunecting New 2|ealand, byssubmarine electric cable, xgith.,other countries, and to reppri thereon -the . said fikmßUttae. to consist .of Mr -<^k«.,h{i;/ : Ed.wai!dsv:'tb«i Hon. Air Hall, Mr Macandrew, Mr (XNfiiJl,the i lion. Mr Richmond, Mr W.'Taylor* iMfc, Webster, and Mr R, fib Wood, ;lie,f9aicl, that during the last few months an astonishing amount of attention had been directed;to the laying of submarine cables. . Vi thought it highly desirable that we shoulti be placed in telegraphic, communication with the rest of the world. He'thought that very useful results would follow an investigation such as he had’.pVdpq^ed,

SAUW/tFdXS ;Kte-PAS3.MINT OF .RATES. Mr Vwbl moved fof leave to bring in a Bill to provide for dales of non-payment of rates. The Bill was then read a first time, and ordered to be printed j' to die read a second rime on Tuesday heit.