ALSATIAN DOGS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 182, 30 April 1936, Page 12

ALSATIAN DOGS

Bill Passed By Legislative Council “RIGHT OF TRIAL” GRANTED The addition of a few words giving offending Alsatian dogs the “right of trial” before destruction was the only amendment to the Hon. C. J. Carrington’s Alsatian Dog Bill during the committee stage in the Legislative Council yesterday. Efforts to have the proposed registration fee of £5 reduced were not successful. The Bill was read a third time and passed. It has yet to receive the consideration of the House of Representatives.

Attempts were made by the Hon. W. H. Mclntyre (Nelson) and the Hon. F. E. Lark (Auckland) to have the clause fixing the registration fee for all Alsatians at £5 amended. Mr. McIntyre contended that the proposed fee would preclude the keeping of the dogs by poor people, and suggested that the amount be 10/6. Mr. Lark proposed that the fee be £2. Both amendments were defeated.

Mr. Lark was successful with an_ amendment, the effect of which was to give an Alsatian the “right of trial” by the appearance of his owner in court before the animal was destroyed by a local authority for biting or attacking any person. A. clause empowering any local authority to prohibit Alsatian dogs within its district was challenged by the Hon. Sir Charles Statham (Wellington) and the Hon. M. Connelly (Otago), both of whom described the provision as impracticable and likely to cause hardship. It was supported by members from farming districts, and on a division was retained in the Bill by 16 votes to 14.

No further endeavour was made to alter the measure, which, after an hour in committee, was read a third time and passed. The Council adjourned until this afternoon. MATERNAL MORTALITY Deaths In New Zealand During Depression A refutation of the contention of Dr. D. G. McMillan (Government, Dunedin West) that deaths -from septic abortion in New Zealand had increased alarmingly during the depression years was made by Mr. W. A. Bodkin (Opposition, Central Otago) when speaking on the second reading of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill in the House of Representatives yesterday. Mr. Bodkin quoted Dr. McMillan as having stated that the last Government would have to accept responsibility for an alarming increase in the number of deaths from septic abortion during the depression years as it had failed to guarantee workers an economic wage. In 1920-27, said Mr. Bodkin, quoting from public health figures, 14 married women had died from septic abortion. In the following year the deaths reached the same number, but in 1929, one of the most prosjierous years, they had increased to 19. In the following year, which was also a prosperous one, the figure had increased to 26. but in .1931 it had fallen to 24. In 1932 the figure was the same, but in 1933, a bad slump year. I here had been an amazing drop to 16. In 1934 the figure had certainly gone up rapidly to 2.8, but in the following year it had decreased to 17. It could be seen, therefore, that in Ibe two worst years of the slump the figures had been lower than at other times. “My figures were taken from the official documents of the Health Department,” added Mr. Bodkin, "and T think that the member for Dunedin West should, in common fairness, have placed the whole of the facts on record. Members of Parliament should be New Zealanders first and party, men afterward.” Government members: Oil. oh I Rising to a point of order, Dr. McMillan claimed Ibat ho had been misrepresented by Mr. Bodkin, Mr. Bodkin had quoted 28 as the number of deaths from septic abortion in 1934, but the public health returns showed the figure to be 42. Mr. Bodkin: 1 referred only to married women.

At this stage the debate was interrupted by the adjournment of the House. '