MILITARY SERVICE! BILL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2791, 8 June 1916, Page 7

MILITARY SERVICE! BILL

THE PARTIALLY UNFIT

GOVERNMENT AID ASKED FOR

QUESTION OF EXEMPTIONS

Consideration of the , Military. SerVico Bill in. Committee was continued in tlio Home ot Representatives after The Dominion went to press yesterday morning.

On Clause 4, dealing with the olasses of men to ba inoluded in Division 1 and Division 2,. and especially thoso men married after May 1, Mr. Anderson "urged that on. amendment should bo introduced exempting men. who had two children by the marriage. Me, Allen pointed out that the Appeal Board could transfer such men to, Division 11. ' ■

lha amendment waa defeated on . tho Voioas. _ The proviso that the children of a previous marriage should bo dependent upon a man married subsequent to May 1,-1915, before he should' bo classed in Division II was. inserted on the motion of Mr. Witty, on the distinct undertaking given by the Minister that if liifi export advisers considered it unworkable it should bo dropped. : Messrs. Veitch and Wilkinson nrged that special provision should be made for fomEies whioh had already sent several members to. the front. -

■' Mr. Allen said they could bo generous in their classification, but he thought it inadvisable to put anything in the Bill. .At 2.15 Clause i as amended was adopted. ' ' • '

The 'Prime Minister said he intended going aa , far as"douse-6. Mr." Craigie moved a new sub-clause, providing that "after enrolment of the First Division has been directed the Govornor shall by proclamation prohibit the voluntary enlistment of married men of the ,Second Division who have two cr more.ohildron dependent upon them"' Mr. Sykes suggested the addition of the •Words "and whose - means are not suflitient'to make adequate provision for the maintenance of their dependants in. Ihe event of their death or'.disablement,' ' and Mr. Craigie accepted this. - Mr. M'Combs protested against this "pernicious" amendment, , and Mr. Allen said he could not see his way to accept it.--The sub-clause was ■ rejected on : the voices. " ' ; Clauses 5 and 6, with - consequential amendments, were adopted. ' Progress was reported at 2.25 a.m., and 'the House rose. When the House met again at. 2.30 p.m. yesterday, consideration of the Bill' in Committee was proceeded with. ' .. Clause 7, providing for the issuance of a,. warrant' for calling up -recruits was agreed, to without discussion. Clause 8, establishing the principle, of the selection of reservists by lot, was »lso adopted. 1 ; On Clause 9, dealing with the oalling up of reservists by publicatkin of a notice in the - Gazette, new sub-olarases were added' providing that in addition to the. Gazette notice the Minister, shall, to far as praotioablo, send to every, man . called up a notice by registered letter' to liis last known plaoe of: abode, failure' fo do fchia,' however, shall not affect the validity of,the calling np of any man. . Fur. ther, a copy of the.Gazette notice shall be posted in some conspicuous place at all post officcs in New; Zealand.' Mr; 'Witty said that , these .proposals met -his .wishes on'. these points, and the. clause as amended was adopted. , The Hon. J. Allen explained that Clause 10, providing that on tho day following his calling- up, a man shall be deemed to be transferred from the Reserve to the Expeditionary Porce, was in the nature of an automatio -swearing in.' -It did not mean that only one day's n0%3, ■would be given—there was no such hurry as that—but simply that the • man would be made liable to army control. The clanse was adopted. - Clauses . 11 and 12,' establishing the liability of reservists on being called up to military command, and the need for re. servists to roport at eet rendezvous were adopted. ; :' -. , , . Men With Dcfects. Some discussion , occurred on Claiuso 18, providing for the treatment of reservists held to be medically unfit by discharge from either the Force or the Reserve, or by exemption from foreign service.' ' On tho motion of tho Hon; J. Allen the , words "registered . medical- practitioner" were struck, out, leaving the commandant to exeroise the powers granted him upon the report "of any medical cfficer, if such report, affords, in his opinion, conclusive evidence that the man to whom it relates is . permanently unfit for, active service beyond the sea 6." . , Mr. Wilkinson suggested that as there would be a rush of recruits to-be examined a maximum should be- set to be paid-to; any one fnedical man. • Mr. Anderson inquired if Dr. Pujdy would receive fees for examining reoruits. The Minister replied that Dr. Purdy would not receive fees—he was now on a fixed salary. Ho hoped to'have medical boards in. most of, the larger towns. In regard to the maximum. "payment, new regulations had been drafted, and were ready for presentation to theHonse. Mr; Wilkinson; Any maximum ? - Mr. Allen: According to the number, of examinations. - • Mr. Wright inquired what could be done to enlarge the chest measurement of men who were deficient, and so make them fit; • ■ Mr. Allen: lithink the men ought!to do that themselves. Mr. Payne said he thought the least they could do ; to a. man who was offering for, service was to offer, him facilities for reaching the standard .of,;ohest measurement. Why should ."they- 1 not spend these■ few pounds to make 1 such men fit, and also see that the teeth of . recruits were attended to and made fit? Dr. Newman also stressed the . point. The Minister had now to deal with men who did not wish to go to tho front. Men below the chest, measurement would not wish to increase their standard, *.nd he.advised the Minister to let'the standard be very elastic. Where a man other, wise all right was an,inch, or so short lie should be sent into camp, and let i'tho work there pull him ont. ! The State Should Pay. Mr. Ell contended that the country was not so. poor that it could'not do something ' to , help men with . physical culture if they were keen to go away. He hoped this wretched economy on *tho part of tho Department would be abandoned. If tho rumours that reached him- wero true, there was extravagance somewhere, and if that were checked a few pounds ; .could be spared for sucE common-sense' assistance for recruits as this was. He asked for an assurance from the Minister that all the expenses associated with the removal of physical defects discovered on examination should bo borno by the Stato. Mr. Dickie agreed that tho state should pay for the removal and remedying of physical defects, and specially instanced several dental cases. _ _ _ PMessrs. Poolo and Craigie joined in the /demand for free treatment of physical- defects. Mr. Poolo alleged that they wero spoiling the ship for a ha'portli of tar. Mr. Anderson said that conscripts would have to be put right at the expense of the State, and why should, volunteers not receive tho samo treatment? . Tho Government Policy. Tho Hon. J. Allen stated that all returned soldiers, received a booklet which told them that even after discharge they could receive treatmont from tho Public Health Department at tho cost of tho Government. In regard 'to the Medical Boards he pointed out that tho human elemont had always to be considered, and instanced one caso whero a Medical Board of three men declared one man was unfit for service and another board two days later declared he was fit. Opinions differed even amonjf medical men. The Government was trying to make tho local examinations as perfect as they could. Where they could establish boards tliey would use them more than in the past. 'As for the small-chested men ho could not {jive any undertaking to establish a school 'of physical oulturo as well as a 6chool

M military training. He would suggest that a man with a chest an inch or on inoh'and a half below standard should set to work himself and remedy matters. He could not see how the Government could do it. He had Quito enough to do.

'Dr. Newman: Can't yon take him into camp and let the work fix it? Mr. Allen: That is entirely lor a medical officer to say. In some instances ho does if ,he realises that tho man will fill out. In regard to teeth, an arrangement was entered into with the New Zealand Dental Association whereby the teeth of recruits should be treated, and if, a man was not able to pay then tho Government would pay. Owing to the Government insisting on those paying who could pay, the Government had been able to secure a much 'moro satisfactory arrangement for the treatment of -the poorer men. The Dental Association was making practically nothing out of the arrangement. They, gave the Department a very reasonable price. "If,", said Mr. Allen, "I were to allow all minor defects to bo put right at the cost of the country it would involve an expense of hundreds of thousands of pounds, and the conviction is being forced upon mo more and more everyday that.it is our duty to consider every penny because wo do not know how long : this war will continuo." In nearly overy. case, he added, the hospital boards were doing the minor operations free of Ichargo and he. considered this a very proper action on their part., Mr. Anderson : In tho case of conscripts, are you going, to make a man's teeth right or turn him down for being dentally inefficient? Mr. Allen: That has not been thought out yet. It wilt.be a question whether his teeth can be done sufficiently cheaply or whether it will bo better to leave' him horo in the country. It will be a question of'whero we aro to draw the line." ■ ■ ' ' . ■ Mr. Okoy raised the question of men under height. Could they not be.token for trench work ? One family of nino was below the standard, and yet they would bo nseful. Moro About Teeth. Mr. Young said the discussion would convinco the Government that the opinion o£ the House was that the Government should remedy minor physical defects. Ho referred to tho work undertaken by tho Dental Association under its soheme with the Government, and now every recruit was given an .opportunity of making himself dentally efficient. Dental corps had been established in the two oamps where much work was done, but in addition the dentists throughout the country were doing'a great deal of work at these reduced fees, whioh barely paid them for their material, etc., and for this tho country owed them a great debt of gratitude. 1 . Mr. Brown urged the Government to face the question. The country was prepared to pay even thousands more. Mr. M'Combs contended that this Compulsion Bill would not havo been necessary had it not been for the parsimony of the Government upon this question of making temporarily unfit men . fit. He oited figures, from Christcliurch which showed that 520 men were lost in three months because of the necessity for. minor operations. It had been suggested tphim that where a man went to a dentist he was asked if he was to pay for it or the Government, .and if it was the Government then he got inferior work. 5 Mr. ; Allen repudiated the suggestion that inferior work was being done for the Government, Good work was done, but certainly a man might get more treatment if he paid for it himself. . Mr. Webb joined in the' demand for Ministerial concessions and was followed by Mr. Payne. The clause was agreed to on the voices. The Offence of Desertion. The next clause, 14, was that declaring that a. soldier remaining in New Zealand after the. unit to which ho was attached had left New Zealand should be deemed guilty of desertion, unless he could prove extenuating circumstances. • ; Several'members protested that the clause was ,too. drastic. . The Minister said that tho clause was one of the most important in the Bill if-the Bill was to be made effective. Even Under the voluntary system cases were not unknown of men who deserted on the eve of the departure of their draft, and provision must be made against this offence, which' was in fact desertion. Ho insisted that, ample .safeguards..were in the clause to prevnt a man from'being punished if there was good reason for his absence. Members were not at ouoo satisfied with the Minister's declaration, and they continued to press the Minister to make the clause less severe. v • Mr. Statham moved an amendment to have ; this effect, and to excuse men if they are delayed through circumstances ever which they have no oontrol. Mr. Allen said he would accept the amendment, on the understanding that he would submit it to the Attorney-Gen-eral and the Law: Draftsman, and if they declared against tho clause for "any reason he would re-submit the clause to the House. ' : The clause as amended was agreed to. Clause 16, fixing , the punishment for the offence of . desertion at "imprisonment with hard labour for any term not exceeding ten years," also provoked some comment. Mr. W. T. Jennings moved to reduco the maximum punishment from ten years to five years. The Minister accepted the amendment. The Hon. A. L. Herdman pointed out that* in the Army and the Navy the offence of. desertion was always , regarded ns'a most serious one. The back of the Bill would be broken unless the penalty for' this offence were mado severe. He \vould not suggest that the maximum - of ten years was necessary, but he 'would remind honourable members that for this .offence a man had to be tried before a jury, aud that on conviction the Judge could determine whether tho term of imprisonment should be five years or one day. If men were to be sent away under compulsion, a- proportion of them, it could 'be presumed, would go unwillingly, and if the punishments were very light, men would desert and trump up excuses under the heading of "circum stances beyond their control.". It would be possible through over-leniency to reduce the Act to a farce, Mr. Hindmarsh pointed out that if the punishments were made too severe juries would no.t convict, and the punishments would lose > altogether' their. deterrent effect. Mr. Allen said that the clause was re-li-ly a concession' to the feeling of aversion among the people to military control. If the House, insisted on too light a maximum . penalty it. would happen . that all offenders would be tried by the military by court-martial. He emphasised aguin that it by no means followed that a man who was convicted would invariably receive the. maximum penalty. He might be punished by a much shorter term of imprisonment, with or without hard labour, or by a fine. Messrs!- Payne, M'Combs, Webb, and Hindmarsh urged that the maximum penalty of .'five years was still, too high, and pressed.for a further reduction to> two years. They called a division on ' Mr. Jennings's amendment to reduce the penalty from ten years to five years. The amendment was agreed to by 50 Votes to G. Clause 16 as thus amended was agreed to. " The Storm Centre. On Clnuso 17,- dealing with appeals by reservists ,called up, and naming grounds on which appeal might bo made, Mr. Payno moved to striko out tho subclauso stating one ground as follows:— "That by reason of his occupation his calling up for military service is contrary to-tho public interest." He declared that if Parliament would bp honest it should seo that conscription was applied to all alike It was because of the existence in tho Bill of this clause that farmers' conferences throughout tho country passed resolutions in favour ot the Bill. They knew they would not bo called upon to serve. He objected to tho Government giving exemptions to tho very class who wero niaking all the war profits. Nor would lie agree to the exemption of people iu any other occupation. If farmers went to the\war their places could be filled by inCll f roin 10 town. If miners went to the war their places could be taken by other workers. Mr. C. A. "Wilkinson repelled tho attack made on farmers by the member for Grey Lynn. Ho did not seo that farmers would be exempted under tho clause as it stood. He considered that tbe clause was one of the most important m the Bill and be would like to seo it mada wider. He would like to see Bomo measure of exemption givon to railway servants, for instance.

Mr. C. H. Poole said that this clause was the storm centre of the Bill. Many people supporting the principle, of tho Bill were suspicious lest there should be improper discrimination in the granting of exemptions. Ho especially feared that those people who were well-to-do might be | able with success to bring undue influence en the board, lie hopod the personnel of the board would bB such as to make it impossible for any undue influence to bo brought to bear upon them. He fully realised that ill a country like ours special consideration ought to bo given to tho agricultural industries. Mr. A. Harris opposed the amendment. Equality of Sacrifice. s Mr. A. H. Hindmarsh said that ho did not object to exemptions, but he put it to tho House that there was no equality of sacrifice when, one man was kept hero at his work while another man was sent to endure the rigours of war in the trenches, 'l'ho House would not recognise the truth that there could be no equality of saorifice. Primary industries ought to bo considered, but some men—tho worst shirkers in the country—who were engaged in primary industries certainly ought not to be exempted. But, he contended, the board would be almost compelled to exempt these men. He iiTged that this inequality of sacrifice should bo balanced in some way. Iu the Bill no attempt was nmdo to do this, or to organise tho oountry in such ' a way that these shirkers should be sent to the war. Mr. W. Nosworthy supported tho clause as in tho Bill. He urged that men ought to be left to do their work on the farms, because it was'obviously in the interests of tho oountry that farm work to produce tho food of the nation should be i carried on. It would not be possible to replace farm workers by women, but it would be possible to replace many to.wri workers, such as shop assistants, by women. In England farm workers were exempted. He objected to the suggestion that men on tho land were shirking and trying to dodgo their duty. But in the provinces of Canterbury and Otago there was already a serious state of things, and already very much diminished production was threatened, because of tho soarcity of labour. Mr. Xsitt said that ho hoped the House would not waste time by discussing a clause which everyone knew must go through. It was futile to talk of equality of sacrifice, because that ideal was impossible; of attainment in war. The objection to the clause was being raised by those who objected , to the hardships of conscription. . Would they make it impossible to reduoo tho hardships? He appealed to the Government to see that the men appointed to the boards were of the sort that they could be depended upon to resist undue influence. The House must take it for granted that suitable men would be appointed. Mr. E. Newman said it was inconceivable that tho Bill could go through if Mr. Payne's amendment were carried. He repudiated tho suggestion that farmers desired to be exempted in order ijiat they might escape the obligation to serve in tho Army.' The. other Labour members spoke of the difficulties involved in exemptions, but did not support Mr. Payne's amendment., Ministers, Teachers, and Magistrates. Mr. Sidey inquired if ministers of religion, professors, magistrates, and public school teachers were to bo disposed of 'entirely at the discretion of the appeal boards. He thought the Government should give' the House some decided indication of its policy and not leave the whole thing to bo fixed by regulation. The Hon. J. Allen remarked that the regulations had not yet been considered. Ho did not propose to exompt any class of men whatever.' Tho men would be called up by ballot and those selected would have an opportunity oi" appealing and their employers would have the same right. Tho board would have specific instructions nndcr the Act to consider whether tho caliing-up for military service of any particular man would be "contrary to tho publio interest." This was a fairly wide definition,' although it might be necessary more specifically to define what "public interest" is. The exemption of ministers, magistrates, schoolmasters, etc., would obviously be considered by the board from tho point of view-of publio interest. Mr. lsitt: Won't that cause moro unrest than if these classes were' exemnted from tho start. Mr. Allen: Tho difficulty is that onco. you'start exempting classes you can never, stop. Tho British Government made that mistake. They practically exempted every body and had. in the long run, to recast the'measure. The Exemption Record. The Hoir. A. M. Myers said he would like to place on record the position in regard to exemptions, since there was an impression among some peoplo that a large number of unnecessary exemptions had been made. During t'he last six months each individual appeal had been considered on its merits. As a result oni.v .80 exemptions had been made, apart from G3 marino officers, who were essential to transport work. The exemptions wero as follow Dairying companies, -1; lreezing works, 1; dairying and freezing works' machinery engineers, 5; transport workers,. 8; cable operators, 15; wireless operators, 8; coal-minera, 10; modical students, 1; dentists, 1; bootmakers, 5; woollen workers, 7; canned goods workers, it; hardware workers, 2; miscellaneous, 10. lliese applications had come from menwho first _ enlisted, as was required < from their employers. Theso figures 6hould disabuse' the minds of those who thought favouritism was being shown.' No farmers had received exemption. A few applications from farm workers had been received, but had been deferred at present. ' Country v. Town. Mr. Veitch supported tho principle of leaving ail exemptions to the board. It was absurd to suppose that any section of the community could brow-beat the board aud secure its exemption. \ Mr. Wobb held that the mere fact that so many members wero claiming exemptions for special classes showed that tho Bill was unjust. Mr.. Wilkinson denied that he asked for exemption for farmers. All ho had asked for was exemption for skilled labour in dairy factories, etc.. , Dr. Newman said that if theso appeals' for farmers went on much longer and the Minister were influenced; the result would be that conscription would affect only the towns, and he as a town member protested against that." If every class demahded. exemption they would get no men at all. Personally, ho did not see why clergymen of fighting age should not go under the Bill. Mr. M'Combs held that tho Minister of Munitions had so far not been required to deal with applications for exemptions from men, but solely from employers. Borne farmers' unions had endorsee! the. Bill and pleaded for. exemption from its operation. (Voices: No, no!) At 10.55 Mr. Payne withdrew his amendment. i Conscientious Objectors. Mr. Isitt ,then raised the question of exemption being' il)iv»tn to those, Quakers who conscientiously objected to military service, but were prepared 'to do other service to help tho country in this period of war. He cited tho splendid work the Quakers were voluntarily doing in Britain and Prance, and asked the Minister to incorporate in tho Bill exemption for them from its 'operation. Mr. Young: Will you make it a condition that they give non-military sirvico? Mr. Isitt: "Certainly." Ho quoted tho case of one Quaker who, when asked what non-military service-lie would,give, volunteered to reduce his income of ,£7OO or ,£BOO a year to tho pay of a married soldier, giving tho balunce to wounded soldiers. Mr. Wehb: That is tho right spirit. A Compromise. Tho Minister «aid he would submit the following new sub-clause for the Committee's consideration, making this a ground for appeal, "that lie objects in good faith to military service on tho ground that such service is contrary to religious .belief." This would be followed up by a provision that such an appellant "shall offer himself to the civil or military authorities for such non-combatant servico as may bo required." The difficulty about tho Quakers was that they would not accept non-combatant servico ill the Expeditionary Force, but this proposal provided for their services being accepted in a civil capacity and outs'de tho Expeditionary Force altogether. Personally, lio objected to tho extension, but was content to loavo it to tho Committee. Mr. Isitt: Won't you give tho conscientious objector non-combatant servico? Mr. Allen: No, I do not see my way to include them hero. You can test ro-

ligious beliefs by evidence, but you cannot test conscientious rreiiets. Messrs. Hornsby and Harris spoke strongly against the proposal. Mr. M'C'onibs condemned their attitude ias "an exhibition of intolerance." Ho cited tho English, clause as offering exemption "on the ground of objection to combatant sen-ice." Such men were then given non-combatant service. Later on, it advisable, lie would move the insertion of the clause in tlio English Bill. Mr. C. E. Statham pointed out ono danger in the amendment submitted by the Minister. It was not possible to give .exemption oidy to the Society of I'riohds. Other religious- objectors, would liave to bo considered. 'Tlio deep religious convictions of'tho Society of Friends wero beyond question, but how would, it bo possible to " discover whether the convictions of other objectors were really deeply religious? A great many other bodies would have to be considered. The end would be that it would bo open to any man to come along and say that bo bad deep religious convictions which, would not allow him to fight. This would destroy tlio work of the Appeal Boards altogether. Ho was in favour of tlio principle for which tho inomber for Christchurch North contended, and ho believed in the justice of tho plea, oil behalf of people whose scruples wero real, but the Minister's clause was too dangerous for tho committee to accept. Mr. W. A. Veitch said he was in favour of exempting real religious objectors, but the Minister's clause went too far. He would support it if some such proviso-as. this wero added: "Provided that no exemption shall be granted unless the applicant cuii produce evidence to satisfy tlio .board that he has been a member .of a religious body which stands for the principle of' non-resistance for a period of five years/' The committee went to a division oil the amendment at 0.10 a.m. The amendment was rejected by 29 votes t» 2ft. Mr. C. A. Wilkinson proposed to add a new sub-clause to provide that in families in which two or more brothers have joined tho colours, .the remaining brothers, even if unmarried, should bo deemed to be enrolled in Division IX. The Hon. J. Allen said he . could not accept this amendment, but lie would accept Mr. Jennings's new sub-clause to exempt tho sole surviving son if one or more of his brothers has lost his life <n service. ; This amendment of Mr. Jennings ivas adopted. Constitution of Boards. On -Clause lb, relating to tno constitution of Military Service Bojirds, Mr. Wilkinson moved to increase the strength of boards'from three members to live, three to l'orm si quorum. The Hon. J. Allen said tiiat this question had been very carefully considered, and he must advise the Committee to reject the amendment and stick to the Bill. It might "bo necessary to have several of theso boards, and it might not always be eauy to got live men suitablo for work on these boards. He did not agree tiiat it would be wiso to have representatives of different sections on . the board. This' might lead to a great deal of trouble and disagreement. Tho safest arid wisest course for tho Government to follow would bo to select the Lest men available. In reply to a question, he said that he did not intend to put any Civil Servants, except Magistrates, on tlio boards, and no military men. Tho amendment was defeated by 31 votes to 13. , Replying to Mr. Hindmarsh, the Minister said- that it was the general, intention of the Government that appeals should be heard in public. There would be cases, kowevor, which it would not.be desirable to hear openly.. To Mr. Ell, the Minister said ho would bo glad to see levelheaded Labour men—if such were available—upon the Appeal Boards, f Mr. llindmarsh: Hear, hear! The clause was adopted, and also tho next clause dealing with tho appointment of acting members of boards. Clauses uj) to No. 28 wero agreed to. The most important amendment was on Clause 27. It provides that an appellant whoso appeal has been granted because he is engaged in a particular industry may be called up, it subsequently he leaves that industry. At 1.30 a.m. progress was reported and tht> Sousti ,rosi). a

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

.The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. yesterday. Sir H. J. Miller and the Hon. W. P. C. Carncros9 woro grunted leave of al>sonce for the remainder of the session. Ono week's leavo of absence was granted to tlie Hon. J. G. W. Aitken on urgent private business. THE RENT PROBLEM. Tho Hon. J. T. Paul gave notico of bis intention to ask tho Government whether in. view of the continued and increasing exploitation of rcntpayers by landlords, the Government will follow tho example of Great Britain and some other countries at present engaged in war, and introduce legislation to give immediate relief. A SOCIAL SCOUFjGE. . tLj Hon. Dr. Collins asked the Leader of the Council whether tho Government will, owing to the vast amount of injury> inflicted ou mankind by venereal diseases, take into consideration tho resolutions carried at. the meeting of the _ Australasian Medical Congress, held in Melbourne in. 1303 arid in Auckland in 1914, and also the l'eoommondations issued in the fina). report, 1016, of tho Koyal Commission on Venereal Disease set .up by the Imperial Parliament, with a_ view to adopting such measures as are within the seopo of the legislative enactments at present on tho statute book of this. Dominion?. Sir Francis. Bell said that tho reply of the Government was that, the Government had recognised the vast amount of injury inflicted on mankind by venereal disease,. and it was having a report prepared as to the extent of such diseases in tho Dominion, and in _ considering legislation fa regard to this matter- the Government had recognised tho importance of tho recommendations published in tho final report of the Royal Comriiission ou Venereal Disease, 1916. Tho Hon. Dr. Collins askod the permission of the Council (which was granted) to lay upon the table a summary of the final fenort, and tho recommendations and resolutions carried at the .Australasian Medical Congress in 1908. The Coiuicil adjourned, to 1.1.45 this morning, when tho Address-in-Kcply will be presented to His Excellency the Governor. '