TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXV, Issue LXV, 10 December 1913, Page 5

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9

LEGISLATI /E COUNCIL.

Most of the day was spent in forwarding Bills sent up from the Lower House, a large number of which were put through their final stages.. In respect to the Medical Practitioners Bill, Mr Bell said it affirms the principle that there should be a body <of medical men, in addition to the Registrar-General, having some control over the medical profession. The Bill proposed to set up a Medical Board(, but in other respects there was no material alteration of the present law. The Bill had been generally approved of by the medical profession, but it was not proposed to pass the measure this session. • The second reading was agreed to after a short discussion, in: the course of which Mr Beehan said, he wanted a clause put in making it* a penal offence; for. any doctor belonging to the British Medical.Association to refuse to consult with another doctor not bringing to that Association. The friendly societies objected to clauses 3 and 8. Unless those doctors outside the British Medical Association got representation on the Board there would be trouble in store for the Government in trying to put the Bill through the 'Council. ii When the Police Force Bill was -under discussion, Hon. J. Rigg intimated that when the time came he would move a new clause to the effect that nothing in the Act should be deemed to prevent any society or association now or hereafter being established having for its objects the improvement of the conditions of the members of the Force with regard to wages, hours, duty, and other conditions, between the officers and men. The Hon. F. H. D. Bell: And the public. Mr Rigg, continuing, said that his Eroposal was that the association should aye nothing to do with any trades union. It would not be used for the purpose of assisting a strike, but would really be .an association on the lines of the Civil Service Association. The Hon. F. H. D. BeH: The Government has not the slightest intention of allowing such an association to be formed in connection with any body, whether military or civil, with respect to'which discipline is essential. The Hon. J. T. Paul supported Mr Rigg's.suggestion, but admitted that it would be a national disaster for them to have any connection with any trades organisation. •The Hon. G. Jones contended that the police could form their association in spite of ..any Government. He considered that 'they should be allowed to have a mutual improvement associa- ' tion. .. ' / -i The Hon. W. Earnshaw said that while he was a strong believer in unionism, he supported the Government in its attitude on the present matter. Mr Rigg's proposal was rejected by 16 to 4..'.'■•