PARLIAMENT.

Evening Post, Volume LXX, Issue 13, 15 July 1905, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

«, ,—, — .YESTERDAY'S SITTINGS. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. CRIMINAL CODE AMENDMENT. The second reading of the Criminal Codo Amendment Bill (providing for the extension to six months of the period "within which information of pffences against young" girls must be laid) was moved iby the Attorney-General. _^^ The Hon. G. M'Lean thought thaTsix months was far too long, and tho Bill •would open .the door to extensive blackmail, plenty of -which was going on now. With regard to the non-repoTting of these cases, ho urged -that nobody had any cause 'to complain of the reports of newspapers under present conditions. The Hon. D. PinkeTton took exception to >the ago limits — twelve io sixteen years ; and 'ho urged that ,the lower limit of age should 'be omitted. There might be blackmail, but 'he would take t'ha risk of. it on account of tho benefits thai, would accrue horn ihe Bill. The Hon. H Fddwick thought that power should be given to the Court to exclude all persons from the hearing of cases of ihe kind involved — without <r<jsnecfc to age; and tho Hon. F. Trask thought a three months' limit for the laying of informations was long enough. The Hon. J. E. Jenkinson also objected to the six months' limit as being 100 long, and 'he protested against any publication of details. The Hon. G. Jones said that if he had his way there would be no limit at all .to the time for laying informations. The Attorney-General briefly replied, and -the second .reading was agreed to on the voices, and th© Bill was referred to tho Statutes Revision Committee. A-N AUCKLAND BILL. The Attorney-General moved the second reading of the Julnlee Institute for the Blind (Auckland) Bill, a measure devised to alter the constitution of tho Board of Trustees of that institution, whioh was agreed .to without discussion. V . * EVIDENCE BILL. " ' The second .reading of the Evidence Bill (a purely" consolidating measure) ■was agreed _to on tho Attorney-General's motion. PROPERTY LAW BILL. The Property Law Bill was read a second dime .pro, forma on the Attorney-Genezul'-s motion, and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. •The Council rose at 3.55 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 'After wo went to prfess yesterday, the House spent the afternoon discussing the introduction of the Home Duty Abolition Bill. In the evening tho Old-age Pensions Act Amendment Bill waa put through Committee. The debato ie reported in another column. The House »ose at midnight. THE WAIRAU HOSPITAL / • ♦ CONDITION OF THE * BUILDING. ASTONISHING MEDICAL TESTI- ' MONY. "GERM LADEN, BUG RIDDEN, AND POSITIVELY STINKING." The trouble concerning Blenheim Hospital continues t5 evoke discussion and comment in Marlborough, on account of the dallying processes of the Hospital Board, tvhich have already postponed for some three or more years the rebuilding of the institution which the Inspector-Gene-ral of Hospitals long ago recommended as a needful remedy. At a meeting of t the Boatd this week a letter was received from Mr. Chatfleld, the Wellington architect, from whom a report and plans for a new hospital were procured some long time since. , The communication stated that Mr. Chatfield declined to allow the retention of his services, with a refund of £75, in the event of the proposed building being gone on with. Hp demanded the sum agreed upon (£lOO and expenses), and the immediate return of plans, etc. The above intimation marks the revoltof an 'architect against a policy of procrastination that the- Wuirau Hospital Board has pursued iiv reference to a matter that merited urgent treatment. Tho Board disevssed the letter, und r-e-solved to send a deputation to Wellington, which will endeavour to get from the Premier an extra Government grant "toward the cost of erecting a new hospital, and also to arrange a compromise with Mr. Cliatfield. At the same meeting took place respecting the advisnbleness of clean, ing and patching-up the present hospital building. A special Committee .Jhafc hod gone into the whole matter recommended that the bugs be got rid of by iumigation, which should bo done three times at intervals of a fortnight; and that afterwards the inside walls bo given three coats of paint. The estimated cost of fumigation was £25, and tho painting £90 to £100. » The Chairman, in moving the adopti6n of the Committee's report, said that even if money for rebuilding was forthcoming frdnl the Government tho repairs would not be unavailing. Tho old hospital could not be burned down, and the cleansing Would fender it habitable possibly as an old men's home. Mr. Macey said the bugs were no worse now than twenty years ago, and another twelve months would be immaterial. Mr. Armstrong agreed. The pest could be reduced by" fumigation but not cured. The Medical Officer (Dr. Bennebt), who attended the meeting, Kvut invited to express his opinion. He said he was dolighted to see that the Bpard wns determined to get something done. Since his connection with that hospital ho had seen more suppuration than ever in his life before. Ths hospital had been unclennsed for yejws. Of course, he would be for better pleased to see a. new hospital built; but in any case Bometbing should be dono in the meantime. In the present condition of the building — and more pnttlcuJflriy the operating theatre — tho odds were Against sending nn ontisepblo operation case out as clean as it camo in. If anything ( was to be done at present, he would recommend tho cleansing of the building. It wns not altogether the bugs that required eradication, but rather the germs With which the building positively slunk, and which endangered life far more seriously. Even if the lumigation failed to dcotory the bugs it would kill the germs. Let them clean the building and fumigate it. "I think thin is a- washing day, and lot us see that we do the washing properly." (Hear, hear.) m At a Idler stag© the Medical Officer made tinrcported statements regarding tho insanitary state of the operating ruoni that, according to the Times, "visibly startled the Board." It was proposed that steps be taken (at an expense of £125) to effect improvements in the matters above get forth, but finally it was decided to hang this matter up until ,the deputation from the Board had waited ujpon tho Premier,