GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Press, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3779, 1 September 1877, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[By Telegbaph.] j_PEB pbess agency.] HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Thubsday, August 30—Evening Sitting, medical pbactitionebs bill. Mr Hamlin moved the second reading of the Medical Practitioners Bill. The existing Act required amendment, as it allowed the registration oi unqualified men, with " bogus" degrees. In the country districts many such cases existed, and the evil was so great as to demand a remedy. He would bo glad to receive any suggestions to improve the Bill from medical members of the House. Dr. Wallis said, as a medical man, he only knew of one " bogus " degree registered in the colony, and that was in Wellington. He thought the Bill a step in the right direction, as putting the power to decide on qualifications in the hands of the profession and local councils. In other respects the Bill had grave defects. He objected to members of Council being appointed by the Governor. Members should be elected by members of the profession annually. He objected to the double qualification prescribed for members of Council. This looked as if the Bill was intended t6 serve some private end. The Bill would also exclude all legitimate foreign qualifications from registration. He objected also to the stringency of the regulations preventing chemists and druggists from prescribing, and also to penalties imposed on persons who thought they had a proper qualification who did not choose to register I in this colony, but who, like himself, might j occasionally be called on to give advice, and might some times accept fees for it. ! Dr Hodgkinson concurred with Dr Wallis's objections to the Bill. If an elective Board was substituted for the RegistrarGeneral the old Act would do very well. Mr Reynolds moved that the Bill be read a second time that day bix months. - Dr Henby thought the Bill the reverse of an improvement on the present law. He seconded the amendment. Mr Shabp thought a measure of so important a character should emanate from the Government. Mr Gisborne pointed out that the Bill would debar all homoeopathic practitioners. | Mr Rowe, Sir R. Douglas, Mr WakbI field, and Mr J. E. Bbown opposed the Bill. Mr Tole and Mr Sutton supported it, because medical men had asked them to do so. Major Atkinson opposed the Bill. No case had been made out in support of it. It would not get rid of anyone not practising, and so would not effect Mr Hamlin's professed object. The present law afforded sufficient means for purging the roll from unqualified men, and if Mr Hamlin knew of such caseß tbe Government would aid in getting them expelled. It would be a great i) istake to entrust large powers to small Local Boards. In time, probably, a medical society for New Zealand might be established, and powers might be entrusted to it, but the period had not yet arrived. Mr Hamlin having replied, denying that tho opposition was honest, straightforward, or well grounded, the Bill was ordered to be read a second time that day six months.

DUNEDIN WHAEVB3 BEBBBVES. Mr Macandbew moved the second raiding of the Dunedin Wharves and Quays Reserves Bill. Both the City Council and the Harbor Board were agreed that the reserve should be restored to the City from which it was taken by an act of last session. Mr M'Lean opposed the Bill. He would be no party to reversing the decision of last session. It was an insult to the House to ask it to do so. Mr Macandrew had deceived the House about the Harbor Board agreeing. Independent members of the Board objected to the resolution to divest the Board of its property. That resolution was arrived at by a majority made up of municipal representa- . tives and Mr Reynolds, who was authorised by the Government to conserve the interests of the Board but who had i_ed."his position to divest the Board of its property. He strongly opposed the motion. Mr Rey_«LDS denied that the motion bad been carried ufc the Harbor Board by his casting vote. Members of the Government should be ashamed of themselves to countenance an act of repudiation, and the Government should have known him better than to

Dominate him if they expected him to play the part of rogue. The had honestly belonged to the city. Mr Rbxd said tbe property had never been vested in or belonged to the Dunedin Corporation. It belonged to the whole Province, to be used for the benefit of its chief port. He hoped the House would not pass theßilL Mr Pxkb condemned the Act of last session aa iniquitous, and maintained the right of the City Corporation to the reserves. The Harbor Board did not require the reserves. Mr Gisbobne supported the Bill, as the reserves had been formerly legally vested in' the Corporation. Mr Lt/msdbx supported, and Mr Bubns opposed, the BilL The second reading was carried on a division by 15 to 14. BILLS BEAD. The Oamarn Athenteum and Mechanics' Institute Reserve Bill, the Town of Waitahana Bill, City of WeUington Loans Consolidation Amendment Bill, and Crown Grants Act Amendment Bill, were all read a second time. The Port Chalmers Waterworks Bill, was read a third time and passed. The second reading of the Napier Borough Endowment Bill was opposed by Mr Gisborne and Mr Ormond as improperly transferring the ownership of a reserve from the Harbor Board to the Corporation. Mr Sutton supported the Bill. The second reading was negatived on the voices. ! The House adjourned at 12.45 a.m. Friday, August 31. The House met at 2.30. Mr Cabbington, as a matter of privilege, drew Major Atkinson's attention to Sartoriß and Downes case of last session, and read certain letters between himself and Captain Borrett and others in England, in reference to the charge made against him of having accepted a commission in the matter. He felt a great wrong had been done him by the accusation, as shown by the comments of newspapers, which he read. He wished now to put himself right with the people of the colony. He read declarations from parties concerned that he had never been promised any remuneration. Mr Staffobd also read a letter from Borrett, entirely exonerating Mr Carrington from the charge made. QUESTIONS. Replying to Mr Pyke, Mr Reid said he would, make inquiries with a view to laying out a township at Bannockburn, in the Vincent County. Replying to Mr Sharp, Mr Reid said instructions were given to the survey officers not to charge any fees for the inspection of maps other than working plans. Replying to Mr Travers, Mr Wh_ta_eb said the Government would introduce a Bill to amend the Dangerous Goods Act. Replying to Mr Wakefield, Mr McLban said the Government were aware of the financial difficulties of the Kakanui Harbor Board, and were considering how best to deal with the subject. The difficulties were the Board's own fault. Replying to Mr Wakefield, Mr Obmond said the" Government would make inquiries how b st to increase the accommodation at the Timaru Railway Station. THE CASE OP OEOBOE JONES. Mr Rees asked certain questions as to the land transactions referred to in the "Oamaru Mail" libel article. Major Atkinson said the matter being pending in a Court of law, it would be improper to give any information. Mr Rees maintained that his question did not refer to the libel case, but was whether the Government had paid any money as compensation for certain blocks of land, and, if so, when, how, and to whom. He moved that the House adjourn. The Speaker said he did not think the extract read by Major Atkinson from " Todd's Practice ",as a reason for declining to answer the question was applicable to the present case.

Sir G. Gbby thought the matter one of the greatest urgency,|and appealed to the honor of the House. Major Atkinson's refusal to answer the questions meant that, if answered, i they would prove George Jones innocent. He appealed to the sense of honor of the House whether it would allow a prosecntion instituted, by itself to be carried on while information which would prove the innocence of the accused was withheld by the Government. Mr Fox thought this was an attempt to reverse the decision arrived at by the House, not to try Jones but to send the matter to the ! Supreme Court. If the Premier possessed any information to show that Jones was _mooent, Jones could call on him to give evidence, in Court. Mr Gisbo—ne thought the Government quite justified in refusing to answer. 1 Mr WhitA-Eb said- Jones could, in Court, I call on members of the Government to give any evidence or produce any documents. Mr Hislop denied this. When the House ordered Jones to be prosecuted, they did not mean, persecuted as was being done. He maintained that the House had a right to ask for full information regarding the land transactions of Government. * The motion for adjournment was negatived. MONDAY SITTINGS. On Major Atkinson's motion, the House resolved to meet on Mondays for the remainder of the session. THE EDUCATION BILL. Mr Cubtib resumed the debate on the Education Bill. He congratulated Mr Bowen' on the Bill. It made education sec-lar, free, and compulsory, without carrying any of thesejprinciplee to extremes. He thought the Bill generally a very excellent measure. He thought that the reading of tho Lord'B Prayer in each school should be left to the decision of local committees. He wonld move an amendment in committee to that effect, so as to follow the system now pursued in Nelson. He regretted that no provision was made by which the Roman Catholic population could take advantage of the Act. Here again he would prefer the Nelson sjstem, which had worked admirably. He would give no public money to any school where religion was taught as a part .of the daily course of instruction. This was not done in Nelson, yet Catholics and Protestants worked there heartily together in carrying on the work of public education. It was not fair to expect Catholics to allow children to be instructed in histories tinged with strong sectarian views. In Nelson they allowed Roman Catholics to select their own books subject to the inspec- j tor's approval, but no religion was to be | taught or any religious instruction to be given in their schools. He had drafted amending clauses to assimilate the Bill to the Nelson system. The Roman Catholic schools there were decidedly superior to others, and more than half the children attending them were Protestants. He only proposed a reasonable concession to the feelings of a very large portion of fellow colonist?. Mr Babpf entirely agreed with Mr Curtis. The Nekon system was in force in Westland, and worked admirably. It would do serious wrong to Boman Catholics to pass the Bill in its present shape. The Legislature should endeavour to heal, not to aggravate religious differences. In Westland the Church of England and Roman Catholics were fully agreed regarding this matter. He hoped the House would adopt Mr Curtis's amendments. Mr Gisboene complimented Mr Bowen on the Bill. Ho approved of large education districts. He regretted the abolition of education rates. He strongly supported secula* education only by the State. He thought the Bill infringed this. Roman Catholics could not be expected to read the Protestant Bible or the New Testament, or repeat the Lord's Prayer. Conscientious convictions would exclude a large section of the community from biking advantage of the system of education, although taxed for its support. Natural justice required the House to meet their s.ruples if possible. He would, therefore, support Mr Curtis's amendments, as doing that section justice without infringing the principles of secular education. This system was sound in theory, and proved efficient in practice. Dr. Hesby would support the Bfil if Mr Curtis's amendments were adopted; not otherwise. The Nelson system worked ad- < mirably. Mr Wakefield approved of the Bill generally. He thought local committees, with an efficient system of inspection, would

be sufficient without Education Boards, which were a relic of Provincialism. If they could not be got rid of the mode of election should be improved. The largest school committees in a district might easily be left without any representation on the Education Board by a combination of a few small local committees. Representation should be in proportion to the number of children being educated by each committee. Too much power was given to Boards, too little to committees, especially in regard to the appointment and removal of teachers. He would to the utmost oppose the religious clause of the BilL This clause proposed protection, not secular education. The debate was interrupted by the dinner hour.