PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 36, 5 August 1911, Page 8

PARLIAMENT

FRIDAY, AUGUST 4. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph—Press Association Wellington, Last Night. The Council met at 2.30. The Hon. J. Barr, after briefly referring to Imperial affairs, admitted there were reasons why sonic persons should object to universal n;i;itaiy training, hut considered that the youths of New Zealand required discipline. He referred to the necessity for educating the girls in th» matter of domestic dubes. TTiey should bo more useful than ornamental. H« complained that of tihe girls assisted to come to the Dominion many wore not qualified for work, and some, he was sorry to say, were undesirable. Someone should be aeat Home to supervise immigration, and see that, the right ctaa were sent out. Dealing with the question of arbitration and conciliation, foe did not think the wholesale criticism of the judge was justified. What was wanted was something to strengthen the conciliation portions of the Act. He did not consider the judge should have the powers he possessed. Where agreements had been arrived at by both, parties these should be law. He thought the time 'had airrived when there should be a radical alteration in the Arbitration Court. Experts should be appointed to deal with the special matters referred to the court.

The Hon. J. Jenkinson took strong exception to Mr. A. L. Herdman's reference to the character of the Legislative Council during that lawyer's speech at Wanganui a few days ago, and the said words u»ed were not fit to be repeated in the Council. He, with others, regretted the circumstances leading to the retirement of tlhe Hon. T. K. Macdonald! from the Council, but thought that was an example thia/t should be followed by one other member. He thought the majority of the Council would be pleased. The Speaker here called the Hon Mr. Jenkinson to order on the ground that his remarks might be considered as a reflection upon a member of the Council.

The Hon. J. Jenkinson, referring to other subjects, objected to appointment of foreign people as consular agents. Referring to the honors conferred by the King, generally speaking, he had no abjection where honors were earned, but he took exception to the title conferred on Sir John Pindlay. He regretted having to speak in this strain. The speaker was again called to order by an hon. member, and he promptly acquiesced in the ruling, remarking that he would deal wit'h the matter, wihen Sir John Find]ay returned. Referring to the Speech, he regretted that the Government had not announced a bold policy. As for the satisfactory reasons claimed for the Imperial Conference the only tangible result was the setting up of a commission to enquire into the commercial relations between the oversea Dominions and the Motherland.

The debate was adjourned and the Council rose.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tiff debate <-n the Address-in-Reply was rrx-med by Mr. Hogg, who, while congratulating Sir A. Guinness and» Sir James Carroll upon the honors conferred upon them, said he preferred to reserve his judgment on the acceptance by Sir Joseph Ward of thu baronetcy. He pleaded for consideration by the Government of the Rimutaka deviation, which was important to the people between. Napier and Wellington. The late Mr. Seddora had complained of the lack of railway enterprise on the West Coast, especially towards the rich forest country.

Mr. Jennings having replied, the Ad-drass-in-Replv was adopted.

MENTAL DEFECTIVES BILL.

The Hon, G. Fowlds moved the second reading of the Mental Dafectives Bill, which, lie explained, dealt not only with' lunatics, but with mentally defective people. The danger of allowing these latter at large was their fertility, which was greater tliajn that of 'strong-miwled moirlVrs of the community. The Bill provided for an annual report on all cases.

Mr. Massey approved of the principle of the Bill. Referring to a newspaper paragraph relating to overcrowding the tVvoitdale Asylum, he said that, if it was ,correct, it disclosed a shocking state of affairs, amounting to a public scandal. The House rose at 5.30 p.m. EVENING SITTING. In the House in the evening, Mr. Massey continued his remarks re the Avondale Asylum. He <lared not think what womld happen in the event of fire. He urged it was a ea«e for a Royal Comwnissiou of men experienced in such matters. He had just received a letter from an ex-patient, now cured, who stated that patients when first entering wore sent j to the refractory ward, which was the closest imitation to hell imaginable. The Hon. 0. Fowlds said that was not the practice. Mr. G. M. Thompson held it was necessary to make provision for defective children. . M

Mr. Fisher suggested that the Bill be first sent to a committee, which could examine expert witnesses. The Bill should not be placed on the Statute Book until it hail fullest consideration and expert evidence necessary to guide the lay mind.

Mr, Field said that if mental institutions continued to be administered' by the efficient staff now in charge good would result. The question of fertility of the unfit should have the fullest consideration of the House.

Mr. Taylor suggested the practicability of drawing thi; attention of people through hospital boards and school committees to the necessity for early treatment of mental troubles in children. The boarding-out system provided for in the Bill would require careful consideration. Mr. Lauremson quoted figures showing a largely increased proportion of the population in the asylums compared with thirty years ago. The proportion was mow one in 290, as against one in 530. He ■congratulated the Minister on introducing another Bill for bettering the position of unfortunates. He was under the impression that not enough money was spent in these institutions. Mr. Hanan thought the money would be well spent in establishing institutions for the care of feeble-minded children.

Mr. E. H. Clark offered the suggestion that the Eugenic Society should he empowered to visit and report on the feeble-minded.

Messrs. Witty, Bollard and Dr. Te Rangihiroa continued the debate, Mr. Bollard "considering that Mr. Massey's statements regarding the state of Avondale Asylum were grossly exaggerated. The Hon. G. Fowlds, in reply, said he was not prepared to say that Avondale Asylum was not overcrowded and seriously overcrowded at that. He had looked well ahead' when the institution' at Tokaanu was being designed. He was to blame, in a measure, for not having the work done (more quickly, hut it must be remembered that they 'had an abnormally high rate of admission to the asylum last year. The admissions were especially high in the Auckland district. The buildings which were to be erected would! ibe proceeded with a-s qaxickly as possible. Within a few months the position would be relieved. With regard to the Royal Commission, Mr. Massey had a mania for them, and he (Mr. Massey) would spend as much money thereon as would (be necessary to cope with the whole question. With regard to the statement that mew patients were put into the refractory wiard when they arrived at the asylum, no superintendent would do such a thing. The statements in regard to the

long hours of attendance were exaggerated. Members had to remember that a heavy expenditure was necessary to carry out needed works. It was no small matter to get sufficient money for the necessary extension of mental hospitals. The Bill was approved and read a secand time. The House rose at 11 p.m.