ANTI-VACCINATION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 283, 24 August 1908, Page 8

ANTI-VACCINATION.

DEPUTATION OF MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT. SOME MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS. Agitations against compulsory vaccination have been in progress in Christchurch for some time. On Saturday a deputation of M.P.'s, composed largely, of Canterbury members, waited on tho Minister for Health (the Hon. G. Fowlds) in regard to the matter. Those present wore Messrs. Gray, Parata, Lawry, Davcy, Laurenson, Grecnslade, Witty, Hogg, and Jennings. Mr. Gray, who was in charge of tho deputation, said tho desire was to abolish the' compulsory clauses of the Vaccination Act. Mr. Laurenson (Lyttolton) said ho did not propose to submit arguments for or against vaccination. But -there was a' very strong feeling indeed in tho country against compulsory vaccination. A few figures lie would give would speak more eloquentlv than lie could._ In 1897 there were 18,733 children born in New Zealand, out of which number 61G2 were vaccinated. Five years later 20,000 were born, and 2011 were vaccinated. 11l 1906 24,000 were born, and 1961 wore vaccinated, and last year the numbers were 25,064 and 1961. Tho Minister could thus see that tho Act existed in tho letter and not in the deed, and it should either bo onforced or wiped out of ■ existence. Any attempt, however, to enforce the law must result in the repeal of the Act; Tho law was simply made a farce. A member in tho House had told him that one of his children had died as tho result of vaccination. There \ had been no case of smallpox in this country outsido tho Gracchus case, and why should the children in a good pure country like this bo subjected to this operation? Mr. Hogg (Masterton) did not think it wise to havo on tho Sta.tute Book a law which was set at naught. Apparently in the minds of the parents, no serious results from smallpox wero apprehended. It would bo very much better to make vaccination permissivo. Ho also recalled tho expense of Vaccination to the State.

Mr. Davey (Christchurch) said medical men had told him it would be bettor to enforce cleanliness, sa.nitary, • and health laws in New Zealand and then there, would bo little need for any. precautionary methods against smallpox. • <• " Endorsement of the above remarks was made by Mr. Witty. Smallpox was a dirt disease, and to suggest that New Zealand was in danger from this class of complaint was going too far. Messrs. F. Lawry and Greenslade supported the other speakers. Mr. Jennings said ho had supported this protest in Parliament for the last sixteen years, and study of the subject had proved to him tho undesirability of. retaining tho present compulsory laws. Mr. T. Parata endorsed what had been said on behalf of tho Native race.

Tho Minister said his position was a little peculiar sinco ho. had always been opposed to compulsory vaccination. (Laughter.) But some people would say we had no compulsory vaccination since any one could secure oxemption. As Minister, he could not allow his private opinions to interfere- with his administration of the law, and 1 lie had never, ill any way, allowed his-owix,preelections to dictate the course to be-taken by the Department. Ho had come ' to' the conclusion that tho intention of Parliament was not being met.by tho chargo. of 2s. 6d., which was mado for exemption certificates.

,Mr. Laurenson: Tho Act. says definitely there shall be no charge.'

The Minister: "Unfortunately that clause does not do away with another statute which says that every declaration mado before a Magistrate shall bear a 2s; 6d. stamp." As far as tho Government was concerned, a decision had been come to that tho 2s. 6d. chargo should cease. (Hear, hear.) At present the Crown law officers wero going into tho matter, and, if necessary to overcome tho technicality, legislation would bo put through this session. 'If tho right existed without this instructions would be given at once that no charges, iyerfl.tp.be mado., .The chargo of 2s. (3d. was) to a cortaiint extent, tantamount to 'CqmpulsjqniT j having sonic bearing was tho erroneous ' views of some magistrates as to tlicir duty. They had tried to interpret .what constituted conscientious objections, and he hoped that in future they would simply exempt any one who had an objection. He did not think there would bo any further legislation this session beyond tho removal of the 2s. 6d. chargo. What would be done in the future he could not say. But it was wrong to have a law on tho Statute Book which was not ■ observed. He would never consent to compelling all persons to bo vaccinated. Ho was opposed to persecution, and onco persons had been fined as a piuiisnment for not obtaining exemption that was quite sufficient. . He would put the representations of the deputation before tho Government.

"What wo want," said Mr. Hoggj "is to vaccinate tho magistrates with a little common sense."