PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 46, 16 August 1911, Page 8

PARLIAMENT

TUESDAY, AUGUST 15. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The House of .Representatives met at 2.30. THE PRESS ASSOCIATION. Mr. Davey gave notice to ask if the Government will 9et up a select committee to inquire into the methods adopted by the Press Association in the dissemination of news, especially in view of the fact that Mr. Wright lias declared that the Press Association is a tool of the Government. TRAINING THE MAORIS. The Methodist Charitable and Education Trusts Bill (Mr. Poole), providing for grants in connection with; the training of Maoris at the Three Kings institution, Auckland, was Tead a second time. DISEASE IN THE ISLANDS. Mr. Jennings moved the adoption of the report from the Native Affairs Committee on a petition from Manahiki and two others of Raratonga, praying for the removal of Dr. Chesson and the appointment of Dr. Dawson as medical officer. A brief discussion arose on the motion. j Mr. Allen complained that the country was not doing its duty in connection with the health of the islanders. Conditions on the islands were most insanitary, and the race was deteriorating in consequence. Matters were ten' thousand times worse on the outlyimr islands. An officer should lie sent down to all the islands periodically. lie complained that no Minister ever went to the islands.

Mr. Wright believed that if Dr. Dawson were reappointed the whole trouble would be set-tied.

Mr. Arnold advocated periodical visits of representatives of the House of Representatives. Sir .Tames Carroll said that Dr. Dawson was still in private practice in the islands. Dr. Purcival had been appointed in place of Dr. Cheeson and was giving every satisfaction. Arrangements were being made for another medical officer for the islands. There was a doctor on the island of Niue and his department was making the best advances possible under the circumstances. The report of the Chief Justice (Sir R. Stout) would be laid on the table of the House on Wednesday or Thursday, and the whole matter could thm be f*onc into. The report of the officer commanding the defence force was lnid on the table! MENTAL DEFECTIVES. The House went into committee on the Mental Defectives Bill. In clause 9, dealing with the procedure in an emergency, Mr, Ell objected to a mentally defective person being taken to a Magistrate's Court for a reception order as if they were criminals. The feelings of those connected with the patients should be spared as much as possible. The Hon. G. Fowlds explained that there was a provision in the Bill for a reception room at the hospitals, though this would not get over the whole difficulty. There were cases of incipient trouble which could not be dealt with elsewhere-fc-hftn-otn pnlieecourt in many parts. The only authorities for the care and control of the public were the police. Mr. Rusaell suggested that female officers should be in attendance when female patients were concerned. The experts of the Department should come in at the 'beginning, and the police would not have to do such duties.

,> Replying to Mr. Malcolm, the Hon. G. Fowlds said ho was not averse to luivln" a special clause inserted later in the Bill prohibiting a doctor, financially interested. from signing a certificate. The clause was adopted. Mr. Wright moved an amendment to sub-section 4 of section 33 to substitute the words "two judges of the Supreme Court' for "the Governor-in-Council." The Hon. 0. Fowlds said it would be most unconstitutional to take the functions of pronouncing on life or death or imprisonment for life out of the hands of the Governor-in-Council.

The amendment was lost on the voices. The Minister added a new .sub-clause to clause 42 to give liini power to trar" fer any superintendent or medical offic, from one institution to another. The House adjourned at 5.30. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. The Mental Defectives Bill was further considered in committee. Replying to Mr. Wright, the Hon. G. Fowlds stated that steps bad been taken to prevent a recurrence of tvphoid at Porirua mental hospital. No stone would be left unturned in the matter. Clause 00, dealing with visiting evoked a request from Mr. Russell for further facilities in this connection. The Hon. G. Fowlds replied that it was the intention to further extend the system of visitation. The Minister amended sub-clause 4 in this_ clause, providing for forwarding of certificates pursuant to sub-section 5 ot section 122. Sub-clause 5 of clause 78 was altered to provide for an escaped patient being returned to the institution.

The Hon. G. Fowlds moved a new clause that nothing in the Act would affect the provisions of section 11 of the Education Amendment Act, 1010 relating 'to epileptic and feeble-minded children, and any minor received into an institution under the Act mav be sent to any special school within the meaning of the section, and shall thereupon be subject to the provisions of the Education Amendment Act. 1010, and shall cease to lie subject to the provisions of 'hat part of the Act.—Carried. j The Minister moved to report progress for further consideration of the clause dealing with medical certificates. The Bill was reported. The Hon. ,T. A. Millar moved the second reading of the Friendly Societies' mil, making certain amendments in the Act at the suggestion of Friendly Societies, the chief provision beinn- that a society ot branch shall not be reois'eved after_ passing this Act until the rates for -sickness, deatli, superannuation and annuity 'benefits, as set out in the rales submitted with application foi registration, are certified' by the actilarv of friendly societies or by an actuary anproved bv the Government. The second reading was agreed to without discussion, and the Hjnse rose at 10.3#.