PARLIAMENT

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 70, 19 September 1912, Page 3

PARLIAMENT

- I»l II WEDNESDAY'S PROCEEDINGS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL The Legislative Council continued its ritting after The Post -went to press yesterday. FINGER PRINTS. The Prisons Amendment Bill, as reported from tho Statutes Revision Committee, provides that regulations may be issued for the destruction of prints *nd measurements taken in the case of persons not subsequently found guilty of an offence charged against them, or the destruction of records tho preservation of which is no longer desirable. USELESS PROCEDURE. The Minister of Internal Affairs moved the second reading of the Marriage Amendment Bill, which seeks to obviate the necessity, of the Governor Bigning appointments of deputy-registrars of births/ deaths, and marriages, in the case, for instance, where the senior officer is absent through illness or on holiday. The second reading of the Bill was agreed to without discussion. ' REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS AND ' DEATHS. The Hon. H.. D. Bell (Minister of Internal Affairs) moved the second reading of the Births and Deaths Registration Bill. He explained that the Bill ■was promoted by the Departmental officers to meet present-day requirements. In the case of births, a certificate was required from a doctor, nurse, or other 1 person present ftt the birth within fortyeight hours. The Bill also provided for {he remission of the immediate payment of the registration fee in certain cases. The measure also included provision for more accuracy in the compilation of statistics and for appointing teachers of Native schools as agents for the registration of births in the case of Natives. The present system was unsatisfactory. , The power asked for in the latter clause, however, and the added proposal for invoking the aid of the police, was a big thing to ask, and he would not be sur-> prised if Parliament refused such permission. The Bill would be sent to the . tit&tutes Revision Committee. ' 4 ' The Hon. 0. Samuel commended the proposals in the measure, but said that the details could be better discussed be- • iote the Statutes Revision Committee. The Hon. Dr. Collins also endorsed ( the main features of the Bill. He ar- ; gued that all children reported still- ' born should be examined by a medical man. In fact, in every case of death the body shoutd be viewed by a medical man before interment. The Bill would also have a very important effect in preventing the spread of contagious diseases. The Bill was read a second time on tho voices, and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. The Council adjourned at 4.30 p.m.