TELEGRAMS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 117, 19 May 1910, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

VACCINATION. WITHDRAWAL OF CHRISTCHURCH PROSECUTIONS. TWO OF DEFENDANTS MEDICAL MEN. [BI TELEGHAP& — SPECIAL TO THR POST.] CHRISTCHURCH, This Day The Jaw in Tegard to vaccination is not administered with any great amount of vigour in the Christchurch district, and most parents are very glad of the fact. Recently a spasm of energy attacked some person in authority, and in consequence a few local people .were summoned to appeaT at the court in answer to a charge ot having failed to submit their children to vaccination. Itseems that a. letter was received by the vaccination inspector from Dr. Valintine, Chief Health Officer, stating that it would be well to institute a few prosecutions, •and for this purpose to single out persons who would probably be in a position to pay a fine without undue hardship. The number of summonses issued was 36, and presumably a selection was made from the many hundreds of technical offenders in the manner directed. The cases were to come before the court yesterday, but on Tuesday some of the persons summoned received notice that they need not appear, as the cases had been adjourned. When the cases were called on at the court it was stated that instructions had been given by the Minister in charge of the department thai application should- be made for the adjournment of the cases sine die, as it was not intended to proceed witlh the prosecutions until a report on the subject of vaccination in course of preparation had been received by the Minister. In six cases the summonses had not been served, and in eight others the defendants had each f orwaTded a doctor's certificate that the child had been vaccinated. The! remaining twenty-two cases were adjourned sine die. Mr. 0. T. J. Alpers, who appeared on behalf of one of the defendants, objected to an adjournment. He said that the offence was admitted, and his client was prepared to pay a fine, as he !had conscientious scruples against vaccination. The masgistrate said he could make no exceptions in dealing with the cases, and he Tefused an application made by Mr. Alpers that an order should then be made against the defendant requiring him to have his child vaccinated. The situation is causing some amusement. The parents have broken tihe law beyond all shadow of doubt, and many of them state that they will cheerfully continue to break it rathe* tflian submit their children to what they regard as a dangerous a-nd unnecessary operation. The matter under consideration by the department seems tk> be whether any attempt shall be made to enforce the law. Two of the people summoned are medical men, and one of these is actually a public vaccinator. fPBESS ASSOCIATION.! HEALTH OF SCHOOL CHILDREN. .CHRISTCHURCH, 18th May. A report on the medical examination of 322 children of the upper standards of the East Ghristchurch School was presented to the Education Board today. The number included 171 boys and 151 girls. Of this total 184 were passed as absolutely good in health, 71 as fair with defects. Twelve had defective hearing, 8 adenoid growths, and 25 defective eyesight demanding further atjtentipn. The examination of the teeth of the girls of. one standard showed that of 83 girls only 4 had full sets of sound teeth. EDUCATIONAL QUESTIONS. CHRISTCHURCH, 18th May. The Education Board has received resolutions from nine meetings of householders protesting against the reduction of the capitation grant, from six meetings urging an alteration of school hours to permit of Bible lessons, and from one meeting urging that a referendum be. taken on the subject of Bible teaching in schools. The matter of Bible reading was referred to a committee to report. WANGANUI, 18th May. The Education Board decided this evening to circularise all Education Boards in the Dominion, suggesting that a conference of delegates (two from each board) be held in Wellington in the third week in July next, to consider subjects of interest to the cause of education, notices of motion to be forwarded to the Wanganui Board before 6th July. ORGANISATION OF LABOUR. WANGANUI, 18th May. At a meeting of between forty and fifty workers this evening, addressed by Mr. D. M'Laren, M.P., a resolution was carried approving the policy of organising the forces of labour throughout the Dominion and the creation of a New Zealand Labour Federation, with branches in various centres. ■MISCELLANEOUS. AUCKLAND, 18th May. An election to fill the seat in the City Council, rendered vacant by Mr. Bagnail's election as Mayor, resulted in the return of Mr. H. Shaw, who polled 1662 votes. Other candidates were : — E. W. Burton, 828 votes; W. Richardson, 3lB ; and T. Harkins, 201. GORE, 18th May. A three-year-old son of Mr. John M'Leod, of Wantwood, near Mandeville, was drowned this afternoon in a water hole near< the house. PALMERSTON N., This Day. The Foxton Harbour Board yesterday decided to send a strong deputation to the Minister of Railways, asking on what terms the Government will sell the wharf at Foxton to the board. LET IT BE KNOWN. The widest publicity should be given to the fact that summetr diarrhoea and dysentery can be cured by the judicious use of Chamberlain's Colic, Cholera, and Diarrhoea Remedy. It never fails. When reduced with water and sweetened it is pleasant to take, which is important when the medicine must be given to small children. — Advt.