SLAUGHTER OF GAME. THE LAW AS TO QUACKERY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2071, 4 May 1907, Page 1

SLAUGHTER OF GAME.

THE LAW AS TO QUACKERY.

The “slaughterer” <>!’ wildfon 1, as distinct from tlio "mi sportsman, camp in for .some wholesale condemnation at tlm meeting of the Otago .if olimatisation Society on April 25fh (says the Otago Daily Times). The chairman of the society (Mr. It . Chisholm) said he had observed, when passing Lake Tuahitoto on the previous day, that a cylinder gun was in position between Lovell’s Flat and Sterling, in readiness for the opening of the shooting season on Wednesday next. In addition to this, ho had observed three or four of these destructive machines in position nearer .Sterling. and said he had no doubt large numbers of ducks, geese, and other wild fowl would be destroyed by their agency in the course of a few days. Me strongly condemned the. use of cylinders and swivel guns for shooting game as unsportsmanlike, and said ■he Ouii Sportsman’s Club and other shooting associations should unite with the society in preventing their use. To get ducks or other wild fowl by such means was “slaughter,” not sport, and was reprehensible in the highest degree; and he suggested that the Gun Sportsmen’s Club should he approached by the society on the matter

ter. The remarks of the chairman were endorsed by all the members present, and it was resolved that the chairman and secretary sir e’d take steps to prevent the destruction of "arac by the means referred'to. One of the members of the society, in conversation with a press representative after the meeting, remarked that the bird that'could beat the sporting man who carried an ordinary fowling piece deserved to got away with his life, and those persons who resorted to the use of cannon in order to get a bag of game were unworthy of recognition as sportsmen. WELLINGTON GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS. NEW WING OF FOUR STOREYS.

When men, now fathers of families, were quite little boys (says the Wellington Post of April 25th) they were taught that' the Government Buildings in Wellington were the largestof the wooden order ill the world. In recent times a famous critic added “and ugliest” to the other superlative, but his opinion is contradicted 1)v many people who have eye enough for the beautiful, For over thirty years the buildings have defied the buffet of the earthquake and tlic blows of the fiercest sterm. They went up in the days before the word jerry-builder came into the language. They are framed with Australian hardwood and bordered with rimu. and brick foundations were put in after the structure was completed. This morning a Government officer remarked that 50 years would be too long a life for ail ordinary building of the types put up in Wellington nowadays but the Government block, solidly built, should stand another 30 years. Tenders have been called for a new wing of four_ wooden storeys, 58ft Gin by 31ft. The plans provide for four strong rooms, loft by 13ft. The extra space will lie mostly used to provide additional accommodation for tlio Departments already in the building. At present offices have to bo rented in various parts of the town, and it is estimated that the saving in rent alone will pay interest on the cost of the new annexe. The additions will consist mainly of one large room on each floor, in each of which big staffs of clerks will be employed, under the supervision of one officer. “We are getting tired of small rooms,” exclaimed one of the officers to-day.

Mr Blow, Under-Secretary for Public Works, stated that all valuable records were stored in the strong rooms with walls three feet thick, in the. Government Buildings and- the Customs House, and in vaults' in the Parliamentary Buildings. The space isod for this purpose would make a fair-sized warehouse, he declared. At the same time lie admitted that there ■wore certain documents and other material which 'could not ordinarily be kept in the strong rooms. A comprehensive lire would mean paralysis of the machinery of Government. He did not think the Government would entertain the idea of brick for the extra wing, bio fires would be lighted there: the rooms would lie heated by hot-water pipes. This statement about hot-water pipes was mentioned to an expert later on and lie said that this provision would eliminate only one of the common causes of outbreaks of tiro.

Talking about' the future, Mr. Blow said lie thought that the Government would not' continue the principle of a huge block, for the risk was too great. The Railway Department and the Customs had separate buildings, and the Health Department and the Public Trust Office were to have their own detached quarters.,

THE NECESSITY FOR LEGISLATION. We are informed on tlie best authority (says the Christchurch Press) that the Government is quite convinced of tiie importance and necessity of protecting the .public from being victimised by so-called medical “Specialists” and quacks. The Chief Health Officer for the -colony holds strong opinions on the subject, and it is probable that an amendment of the law dealing ty.ith these cases will be proposed next session. The subject is a difficult one to deal with, and it will require much consideration by the Government before they can come to any decision as to the .precise form of the new legislation. It E admitted, however, that something must be done to protect the public in this matter.

There is already an Act of Parliament prohibiting advertising in connection with certain classes of diseases, and tlio Government has issued an order under the Act prohibiting the delivery of any letters or telegrams to those who advertise in respect of those diseases. This very drastic step, we are informed, has resulted in an undertaking—properly guaranteed—being given that the advertising will be wholly discontinued. The only legal remedy at present in regard to treatment by quacks is apparently that which was taken in connection with a case in Wellington some yoars ago, when an action was brought for the recovery of all sums paid to the quack on the ground that he had obtained the same by fraudulent pretence as to his qualifications and -the efficacy of his treatment. In that case, judgment was given for the repayment' of the full amount with costs. Of course there is always the other remedy that a man may bo charged with manslaughter if there is evidence that his treatment is criminally negligent or unskilful. It is contended by medical men that it is an illogical position for a Government to take up to force men to study for live years before being allowed io treat patients medically, and yet allow any quack ‘to treat people medically without evidence of any study whatever. As to patent ndldieinos, they contend that it would probably be sufficient in the case of any medicine that contained a drug of a poisonous nature, that a clear statement he made oil the label that such drug or poison forms part of the preparation.