BILLS BEFORE HOUSE

Gisborne Times, Volume LIII, Issue 5536, 17 July 1920, Page 4

BILLS BEFORE HOUSE

REGISTRATION of aliens

POSITION OF BRITISH WIVES OF ■ FOREIGNERS.

LA 808 AMENDMENT REJECTED

WELLINGTON. July 16

The House, went into committee on the Registration of Aliens Amendment Bill. . . • On Clause 2, requiring the registration as aliens of British women who marry aliens,'Mr. Holland called'for a' division, but the clause was retained by 49 to 11. . With the exception of minor alterations in Clause 4 the Bill passed tho committee stage unamended. Tho Marriage Amendment Bill passed the committee . stage unamU The Hon Mr. Anderson said he lmd had a clause prepared abolishing the necessity for three days’ residence in a district bcfoie a mairiage could be solemnised, but lie had lmd no opportunity of submitting it to the Crown Law officers and lie would pass it on .to the Legislative Council. The Bill was then read a second time and passed. The second reading of the Counties Bill was then taken. . Mr. Anderson explained its provisions when tho Hon. Mr MacDonald rose and protested against the second reading debate being taken before it had been dealt with by a special committee to whom it was to be referred. He suggested that the Bill should bo read a second time pro forma and discussed when it came back from committee. His view was endorsed bv the Opposition, but the Premier declined to comply with the request and Mr. Anderson continued his explanation. He said the alterations in the Bill before the House were purely verbal and a number of new clauses would be submitted to the _ special committee. These were mainly on the lines suggested by recent Counties Conferences. No alteration would be made in the areas or boundaries of the present counties. This mignt or might not be wise, but it was the decision of the Government. The Bill was read a second tune without discussion and referred to a special committee. The Hon. Mr. Parr moved the second reading of the Masseurs Registration Bill. He said tkat_ massage was now recognised ns an important part of medical science _ but so far, there was no registration of it in this country. It was proposed to set up a register in the Dominion and anvone desiring to enter the profession for practice for gam would be required to pass an examination. Those already practicing who hem certificates would be able to registei on oiving satisfactory pi oof or training and skill. The Bill was intended to°protect the public against unskilful treatment and protect trained masseurs against untrained competitors. To those who felt aggrieved m the matter of registration the right of appeal was given. Air Hanan (Invercargill) urged* that the Bill should be referred to a committee for special investigation. He objected to hard and fast lines drawn in connection with the position of certificates. , Air Malcolm (Clutlia) agreed that the ill should be amended in some respects. There were uncertifieated and sometimes uneducated persons with special natural gifts who should not be excluded from practice. People must be protected from quacks, but they should be careful not to allow anything in the nature of a close corporation for the benefit of certain persons. The trend of further speeches was in the direction of referring the Bill to a special committee to guard against injustice to practising massems.

The Hon. Mr. Parr, in reply, said that he recognised that it was a p. oper course to refer such a Bill to a committee. A Public Health Committee had been set up for such a purpose. It was proper that those concerned should have an opportunity to place their views before members, but he did not think they should encourage indiscriminate healing. While prepared to liberalise tlie measure in some direction lie did not favor permitting masseurs to practice except under the direction of medical practitioners, as correct diagnosis was of vital importance. The Bill was read a second time and referred to the Public Health Committee. Mr Massey then said that he had proposed to ask the House to consider the Arms Bill, but such had been the pressure of public business that he had not had time to look at it since it left the hand of the law draughtsman. He therefore moved that the House adjourn, and the House rose.—P.A. wire.