The Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 1885. TEMUKA MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1293, 22 January 1885, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 1885. TEMUKA MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE.

Like other great towns, Temuka has its vexed question which comes annually to the surface. Temuka has its Mechanics’ Institute, and about five or six years •go it was thrown open to the public on Sundays. liver since this has been a burning question which crops up regularly just about the time of the annual meeting. Several attempts have been made to re-close, and very hot debates have been held over the subject, but the Sunday opening party have always been in the majority and carried the day, and it remains still open. To us the matter in question appears very small indeed. We do no believe that there is one man who holds that to sit down in a Mechanics’ Institute on a Sunday and read a book or paper is sinful. To hold such views would be inconsistent with reason or common sense. The only objection therefore that cun be raised against the Institute being open is that it keeps people from attending places of worship. There can be no other reason, for no man in his senses can say that to read a book or paper on a Sunday in a Mechanics’ Institute is a sin. On the other hand, the party in favor of opening it can adduce no argument in favor of their action except that it is very convenient for people who have no homes to be able to sit down there on Sunday evenings, and that it is far better for them to be there than in public houses. One objects to its being open on the ground that it is keeping people away from the churches, the other opens it for the convenience of the homeless—and that is all the difference there is between them. Now the natural inquiries which anyone desirous of arranging the dispute amicably makes are—how many attend the Institute on Sundays ? how many are kept from the churches ? and how many are accomodated by having it open? The caretaker asserts that only three or four ever visits it on a Sunday, and that all these very often do not come. Some Sundays not one attends. According to this to close or keep open the Institute would not make much difference. There is scarcely one kept from church, there is scarcely one provided with a home, and there is nothing in the dispute worth talking about. The whole affair is only the proverbial “ storm in a teapot,” entirely unworthy of so much attention being bestowed on it. And yet this dispute has caused bitterness, angry discussions, and done injury to the Institute. To us this appears ridiculous, and we trust the people will now look at the matter straight in the face and realise how small the cause of the dispute is. Let them consider that the Mechanics’ Institute is one of the necessary adjuncts to civilization, that the great ambition of every British community is to possess sucii institutions, and that it would be a disgrace to the town if it were allowed to perish through such a paltry cause. We know how useless it would be to appeal to some those who want it closed on Sunday : to do so would be mere folly, for they are not capable of being reasoned with. We therefore turn to the great majority, who undoubtedly comprise the most intelligent portion of the community, and ask them to give way in this matter. They have frequently been victorious, they have kept the Institute open for years, and there is no doubt but that they can keep it open still, and we would put it to them now : Is it worth while to keep it open in future? We hold that it is not, and on this ground we would ask them to try the experiment of closing it fur at least 12 months. Nothing can be lost, something may be gained, and the Institute is in such a state at present that it needs life being put in to it somehow. Another way in which the Institute might be improv'd is by amalgamating with the Young Men’s Club, When the Young Men’s Club was at first formed we suggested the advisability of Aiiia'gating the two institutions, and this has been frequently talked over since, ft would be easy to do it, A room for ihe physical amusements of the young men might bo built for £SO on (he ground of the Mechanics’ Institute, an i the present reading room would serve as a lecture or debating room, and the members would have access to both for the amount they pay now to one. The community ie too small for keeping up

two institutions having much the same objects in view ; they cannot both be pro* sperous—there must be a great struggle for existence where the people are thus divided, and neither can be so useful as it might he under more favorable circumstances. Both parties are, we be* lieve, rather favorable to this idea, and if any steps were taken in the matter it would not be difficult to arrange matters to their mutual satisfaction. The adjourned annual meeting of the Mechanics’ Institute takes place this evening, and it would be a good time to have the whole matter discussed, VACCINATION OF CHILDREN". In the Temnka Court yesterday, during the trials of persons summoned for having neglected to have their children vaccinated, Mr O’Halloran expressed a hope that the Press would take notice of the cases, so that people might save themselves the trouble they are sometimes put to through their own negligence. We do so willingly, but at the same time we must say that there ousrht to be no necessity for it. At the time of registering the birth of a child the parents, or other persons attending to the registration, are supplied with forms which give them all the necessary directions, if they would only read them. There is no excuse for anyone, as the Department gives the fullest information in this way, and people have therefore only themselves to blame if by non-compliance with the law they are inconvenienced. But as it often happens that people neglect this duty, it seems to us that a few words on the subject may not he inappropriate. Under “The Public Health Act, 1876,” every ( child is required to be vaccinated successfully within six months of its birth. The father is held responsible for this, and in case he neglects to have it done ho is liable to a penalty not exceeding two pounds. Every duly qualified medical practitioner can vaccinate, but the Government have appointed certain medical men as public vaccinators, and these vaccinate free of charge on certain days of the week and at certain hours of the day. Upon the same day in the following week after the vaccination the child must be taken to the doctor to see whether the vaccination has been successful, and on finding that it has he gives a certificate to that effect. If he is a public vaccinator he is bound to forward to the Vaccination Inspector of the district the certificate, but if he is a private practitioner he is not, and the responsibility rests with the parents. As an instance of this Dr Hayes is a public vaccinator in Temnka, but Dr Campbell is not. Dr Hayes is bound to return to the Vaccinationlnspeetor the certificate of vaccination, but Dr Campbell is not, and the duty of the parents in that case is to get from Dr Campbell a certificate and forward it. It is in cases like this that people get sometimes confused, and they ought to take particular notice of it, as negligence on this point often leads to inconvenience to themselves. It is competent for a doctor to postpone vaccinating any child on the ground that it is not in a proper state of health, but he must give a certificate to that effect, and this certificate ought to be forwarded to the Inspector in the usual way. All this information is supplied when the birth of the child is registered, and if parents take notice of it they will be saved the trouble of coming to Court. Yesterday one person came from Rangitata and another from Geraldine, and though they grumbled at it, they got no satisfaction and had to put up with the (rouble. Unless others take notice of what they are to do, they will have similar experiences, and then they will be sorry they did not attend to the matter more carefully.