THE QUACKERY BILL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 170, 18 July 1907, Page 5

THE QUACKERY BILL.

AMUSING PARLIAMENTARY

INTERLUDE.

(By Telegraph.—Purnamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, Wednesday.

Armed with a lengthy list of analyses, Mr. Hornsby (Wairarapa) endeavoured this evening to demolish everyone's ideals in medicine and tonics one by one. He pulled to pieces the favourite mixture exposing their ingredients to the vulgar understanding, and letting in some light upon what stands behind°the attractive label and the high sounding name. The occasion was the second reading of Mr. Hornsbys Quackeries Bill, which was introduced last session, with the intention of preventing the sale of remedies unless the formula is first deposited with an examining board to be appointed for the purpose of issuing certificates when they are satisfied in regard to the curative or other beneficial qualities of the preparation submitted to them. Mr. Hornsby proceeded first to disclose the constituent parts of popular pills, some of which he alleged contained soap, but there were exceptions. Amused members cried disappointedly—"What, no soap?" One specific, the title of which happened to coincide with the name of a popular southern member, was said to contain 46 per cent of free sulphur and a little bitters. This, of course, was taken in a personal sense, members affected to become quite startled when the speaker quoted a compound which sounded like "bubos bericolosh." "Now we come to hair restorers," proceeded Mr. Hornsby, and a number of members quickly put on their hats.

Mr. Aitken (Wellington), who is happily independent of such preparations, suggested for the benefit of his elderly colleagues on the Opposition" benches that particulars of the restorers should lie read out slowly so that they could be taken down.

Mr. Hornsby rapidly passed on to drink cures, one of which was said to be merely sugar and salt.

Mr. R. McKenzie endeavoured to put a period to the merriment by suggesting that Mr. Hornsby was out pi order in reading his speech.

"I am quoting a scientific document," retorted Mr. Eornsby. "I am sorry the hon. gentleman is perturbed; he is not a dealer in quack medicines."

Mr. Wilford (.referring to Mr. McKeuzie's private bill regarding weeds), "he has seme noxious subject on hand." Having successfully escaped the point of order Mr. Hornsby went on to say that the medicines quoted were never worth more than sixpence a bottle, so it paid the proprietors to advertise extensively. His bill would not prevent any honest man or the genuine practitioner from carrying on, his profession, but it would stop the operations of the charlatan. He desired to see the bill sent to a aelect committee which, would have to take evidence and report. Tie bill was read a. second time and referred to & eeket coeßß&tes fli frea