THE C.D. ACT

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 207, 3 September 1886, Page 4

THE C.D. ACT

Council Docldcs to Suspend, It,

The discussion upon tho question of suspending the Act, or taking medical opinion as to its effect, adjournod from last week, waa resumed by Cr. Atkin, who appeared with a bouquet in bis button-hole. He said that ho bad left a wedding party to attend the Council. (Cr. Dignan : Why did you not stoy at the wedding?) It was cortainly not through love of tho unsavoury subject he had to doal with, but from a sense of duty. Ho then continued his argumont as to the inoporativo character of the Act. Ho eaid that those who clung to tbo Bible could not conscientiously submit to thoir rates being usod for the purposes of the Act. He also opposed the taking of a poll on tho quoation. He waa in favour of the repeal of the Act, and if that could not bo obtflinod be would vote for its suspension. Cr. Goldie's amendment was then put aB follows :—" That in tho presont financial condition of the Council it ia not desirable to further maintain the Lock Hospital out of its funds, and will, nfter the necessary notice Ims been given, rescind any resolutions authorising such expenditure." Tho amendment was carried by 9 to 7, and consequently disposed of the motiou to dofor tho matter for medical advice. The amendment having now bocome tho eubstantivo resolution,

Cr. Cooper then moved as an amendmont, " That a poll of the ratepayers be taken on tho quoetion, ' Is it desirable that tho operation of the CD. Act in the city of Auckland bo suspended ?'" He said that when tho discussion began he was strongly in tuvour of the Act, but he confeeaed that he- waa not strongly in its favour now. Ho hold, however, that it would bo a mistake to suspend it yot. So far as the Act wont, it was a good one, but did not go far enough. (Cr. Aickin : Hear, hoar). The Logialaturo, by passing it, gavo them a process for mitigating a groat existing evil. It was unquostionablo that the Act hat! dono good by mitigating a discreditable disease. At the same time, some harm also might havo resulted. Cr. Uevoi-o seconded tho amendmont, although he did not expect it to bo carried, It had been conclusively shown that contagious disease had boon cured and kept within limit*, and cotiHoquently tho Act had proved useful. Before suspending it, tho ratepayers should bo allowed to pronounco an opinion, for thoy woro as well able todocido as the Councillors. Tho opponents of tho measure, although vory noisy, ho believed to be in a minority, and their advocates in tho Council had talked a great deal without saying much. Tho only valid reaßon ho could admit for hanging up the Act was want of funds. Still, ho would prefer to teo it repealed than merely auspondod for a timo. At present thoro seemed to be no finality iv tho Council on tho question. Cr. Goldie did not think the ratepayers should bo asked to pass an opinion upon the suspension of the Act in viow of tho fact that tho opinion of tho ratepayers waa not taken when it was brought into operation. Ho doprr-catod any public agitation upon such a subject, but mentionod as un indication of public feoling that sovoral of the recent candidates for Council honoura woro pledgod to vote against tho Act. This was tho only place in the Southern seas that made use of such an Act. Cr. Goldie wont on to quote from a roport which he had procured from a private detective to show that thoro woro a great numbor loading immoral lives in tbe city not recognised by the law, and that contagious was preventiblo amongst thorn. Besides, there was need ol retrenchment, and ho intended also, at the proper time, to move for the roductiou of the Mayor's salary. Cr. Garratt argu'd ia favour of tho poll, Baying that if a wrong had bien committed in adopting the Act without taking the ratepay t rs' opinion, that did not justify them in doing another wrong by discontinuing the the Act without referonco to thtm He also found fault with Cr. Goldie for quoting from tho report of a private d tcctive, and auppressing tho writer's declaration in favour of the Act.

'r. Aickin hold that tho pith of the argument was contained in the question, " Had tho Act proved bin licial or not?" He submittid that it had. (Cr. Atkin: Proof ) Ho had not interrupted Cr. Atkin during his sermon of last we- k by demanding' proof from him. although it was badly needed. Howevor, the proof was supplied by the surgeon's report, which Btated that there were only two diseased patients in the Lock Hospital. Thore was loss syphiliß abroad in the community now than when tbe Act was adopted. Tho next question was, had the benefit proved to be worth the cost ? Tho agitation had boon carried on on religious grounds, but the Council had to judge it by sanitary grounds. Thoy had taken precautions against scarlet lever and small-pox and other contagious diseases, but none of them were bo dreadful as the disease dealt with by this Act. Thone who opposed the Act knew little or nothing about thin terrible and loathsome disease, whose effects, if not sudden, were sure, besides having the further power of transmission to children's children. (Cr. Atkin : Scripture again.) There were stronger reasons for consulting tho ratepayers now than when the Act was introduced. Cr. Crowther twitted those who now clamoured for the poll with being just the ones who exclaimed against it while the Act seemed safe. Ho opposed it for economical reasons. The Mayor waa disinclined to continue a system that was clearly offensive to a large number of ratepayers. Besides, he was not sanguine that the poll would effect any good result. The opponents of the Act, being stirred up to action, would take care to vote ; while its supporters, being but lukewarm at best, would not be likely to tiouble themselves. Cr. Buchanan denied that ho for one was actuated by roligipUß reasons to oppose tho Act. He would vote money readily enough for the eradication of t)io disease, but he opposed the Act as thoroughly unjust and inequitable. Cr. Evans pointed out that the question at issue was not the merits or otherwise of the Act, but the advisability of .taking a poll. He denied that any of the candidates for Council vacancies had been spoken to on the subject. As for the poll, if the ratepayers had desired it they would have asked for it. There was no use in stirring up filthy water, Cr. Jameß followed in the same strain, and maintained that if a poll wore taken the result could only be the suspension of the Act. The Act was unjust in applying to only one Boction of the community. If they wanted,to check the disease, let them give tho apparatus anii free quarters to a doctor who could charge for his servioep. Cr.3K.idd did'not think the subject could be much further stirred up than it had been. At any rate, the differences in the Council had boen so great that the question should now be referred to the ratepayers for determination. Cr. Goldie's private detective would have made out as good a case for the other side if lie had been paid After quoting' the Cbristchurch Resident Magistrate and Mr Supt. Thomson in favour of the Act, Cr. Kidd said its only defect was that i 4 was not stringent' enough. If it were suspended, tbe expenditure upon the Lock Hospital would in some' measure be lost. Cr. Cooper's amendment was then put and lost, the veting being:—For (7): Crs. La Roche, Cooper, Devore, Aickiu, Kidd, Gariatt, and Clarke. Against (9) : Crs. Evans, Dignan, Buchanan, Crowther, Atkin, Goldie, James, Davie?, and the Mayor. Cr, Garratt wished to move <be adjournment of the whole question for a full meeting of the Council, but he was ruled out of order, having already moved an amendment. He charged the opponents of the Act with having taken a mean advantage in pushing the question. Cr. Goldie's proposition suspending tho Act was then put and carried.