PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 212, 7 September 1899, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

(By Telegraph—Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, this day. INFANT LIFE PROTECTION.

A return was presented in the Legislative Council to-day showing- the number of houses registered in the colony last year under the Infant Life Protection Act, ISO 6, and the number of deaths of infants reported under the Act since it came into operation. It appears that there are 553 of the houses in question in the colony, and that the deaths have been no fewer than 145. The principal causes of death were: Diarrhoea 33, convulsions 23, marasmus 27, while 20 deaths are said to have occurred from what is vaguely put down as "natural causes." The information disclosed may be regarded as somewhat startling. A PIG STORY. The other day in the Legislative Council the Hon. L. Walker demanded to know why any person or persons should be permitted to keep pigs within the. Parliamentary grounds. The presence of such unclean animals in close proximity to the Legislative Chambers was, he thought, most offensive and should not be allowed. Yesterday afternoon the Minister of Education informed his indignant friend that he had inquired into the matter and had, in fact, made a personal examination. There were, he confessed, three pigs in the grounds, but they were a trio of "nice little pigs," ami it could not be said that any nuisance was caused. The pigs were being' kept by the Stock Department for scientific purposes, and ifc was necessary that they should be in a place convenient for observation.

Mr L. Walker said he could not regard the explanation of the Minister as at all satisfactory. Tt was a flagrant breach of the Corporation bylaws to keep swine within the city boundaries, and he would complain without delay to the Inspector of Nuisances. The Government should obey the ordinary requirements of sanitation and decency just as well as ordinary individuals did. It is therefore possible that the head of the Stock Department will appear shortly before the Stipendiary Magistrate to show cause why he should not be fined 10/ and costs. JOTTINGS. Mr Crowther will ask the. Premier if he can see his way to recommend the granting of the title "Royal" to the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association, formed in Auckland in IS'JO. which has been sought and conferred on the recently formed Humane Society of New Zealand.

Mr Monk intends to move that there be laid before the House the repon of the officials who inquired into the accident near Ivaukapakapa on (he Helensville Northwards railway, which took* place in the summer of 1898 and resulted in the death of a Mr Barker.