PUBLIC HEALTH BILL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 213, 7 September 1900, Page 3

PUBLIC HEALTH BILL.

THE MEASURE IN COMMITTEE.

(By Telegraph—Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLING TON, this day.

In the House of Eepresentatives yesterday, on the motion that the Public Health Bill be considered in committee, Mr Pirani divided the House, with the result that the motion was carried by 41 to 13. On the interpretation clause some discussion took place on the inclusion of blood poisoning in the definition of infectious diseases.llr Collins arguing that many forms of blood poisoning are not infectious. Mr Massey proposed to substitute "septic disease" for "blood poisoning." This was withdrawn on a promise being given by the Colonial Secre- j tary to consult with the Health Commissioner on the subject. Clauses B to 7 were passed without discussion. On Clause S. Government may constitute health districts, Mr T. Mackenzie proposed to amend sub-section i'» by substituting "provincial districts" for "counties or boroughs." This was •negatived on the voices. On the motion that clause 8 stand part of the Bill, Mr Bollard divided the committee, with the result that the clause was carried by 48 to 9. Clauses 9 to 13 were passed as printed. Mr Herries objected to sub-section 4, clause 14, registration of inns and lodging-houses and regulating the number of lodgers that may be kept therein, on the ground that it ought to be included in the Licensing Act. The Colonial Secretary explained that the object was to prevent over-crowd-ing, over which there was no direct control as the law now stands. Clause 14 was agreed to. Clause 15, regulations, was amended on the motion of Mr Herr'es to the effect that a copy of the regulations made under the Act shall be laid be-foi-e Parliament within 14 days of the commencement of the session. Clauses 1G to 24 were agreed to with a slight verbal amendment in the last mentioned. Clause 25 was agreed to. Clause 26, sub-section 4, the medical practitioner who attends the patient shall, upon the day on which he becomes aware of the nature of the disonse or suspected disease, srive notice thereof to the occunier, and also to the District Health Officer. This was amended by inserting after the word '■patient," "or the chemist who supplies medical drugs for him." Other consequential amendments were made in sub-sections 5 and 6, and the latter, which prescribes penalties for neglect lo report, was further amended by inserting the wwJ "willfully" before "neglects." Some objection was taken to the part of the sub-section providing for the suspension from practice of medical practitioners or chemists, for a period not exceeding six months, for neglect to report to the District Health Officer any case of dangerous infectious disease. An amendment was moved by Mr Allen (Bruce) to the effect that in lieu of suspension from practice a further fine of £50 may be imposed in addition to the penalty of £10. This was lost by 35 to 18. Claused 20 to 31 passed as printed. Sub-section 1, clause 32, any person who, whilst suffering from any dangerous infectious disease, wilfully exposes himself in any shop, public place or public vehicle, without proper precautions against the spread of the infection, shall be liable to a penalty of ten pounds, was amended by inserting after the word "suffering," the words "to his own knowledge." Clauses 32 to 37 were agreed to. Clause 38, sub-section 8, local bodies may combine to provide and maintaiu a common hospital, the Colonial Secretary moved to insert after the word I hospital, the words "or Sanatorium for consumptives." This was carried by 32 to 13. Clause 38 as amended, and Clauses 30 to 41 were passed. Clause 42, local authority may provide mortuaries and morgues, evoked many strong protests from the country members, but the clause was amended by inserting the word "Shall," making it mandatory for the local authorities to provide mortuaries and morgues-when required to do so, and the clause as amended was agreed to, also Clauses 43 to 44. On Clause 45, relating to, providing1 ash piik and other conveniences in connection with new houses under a penalty not exceeding £20, Mr Herries moved to exclude. country districts by restricting the provision to boroughs or counties. This was negatived by 25 to 10. Clauses 45 to 50 iv, re agreed to. Clauses 51 to S7 were passed with unimportant verbal amendments. On Clause 88, diseased or unsound food may be seized or destroyed, Mr Herries pointed out that the clause was in conflict with the stock act in respect to compensation, and the causes for which animals may be destroyed. Clause 88, providing for the seizure and destruction of diseased or unsound food was disposed of at halfpast two, after a long discussion, with only verbal amendment. After this progress was rapid .the House agree-ing-to everything up to clause 171, which was struck out on the motion of the Minister in charge. This.clause suspended the non-compulsory vaccination provision, in case of an outbreak or there being danger of an outbreak of small-pox.- This completes the revolution on the lines of the English Act of last year. The final clause and schedule were then passed, and at a quarter to three the Bill was reported with amendments, and the House adjourned.