PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 10 July 1913, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (By. Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m.'-'' FRIENDLY'SOCIETIES. In reply to the Hon. Mi' Beehan, the Hon. H. D. Bell said the Government intended to set up a committee to consider the question of the subvention of Friendly Societies on the 4lnes adopted by the New South. Wales Legislature, SMALL-POX. The Hon, Dr Collins moved, "That this Council views Avith anxiety the increase in the number of cases of smallpox in Sydney, and respectfully suggests to the Government a more rigid /enforcement of the Public Health Act, 1908, with reference to vaccination." Dr Collins said it was reported that only 5 per cent of ,the population was vaccinated. The position would be most serious in the event of an epidemic of smallpox breaking out. Vaccination was an effective pre entative. He asked for a more rigorous administration of the present law. _ The Hon. W. F. Carncross advocat- | ed the repeal of the exemption clauses of the present Act. The Hon. Mr Barr strongly opposed this course, contending that vaccination was worse than smallpox. The Hon. F. Jones contended that the exemption clauses had hampered the administration of the Act. The Hon. H. D. Bell said the position was not serious enough to warrant the Government in coercing the people to adopt vaccination; but the Public Health Department was both competent and zealous. Every step necessarv would be taken to protect the public against epidemic. The motion was parried on the voices. p ''J- ...: ' LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BILL. The Legislative Council Bill, 1913, was read a first time. CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES. The Hon. W : . F. Carncross was elected Chairman of "Committees unopposed. ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. , The debate on the Addres«=-in-Rcply was resumed by the Hon C. M. Luke.