HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVII, Issue 205, 30 August 1913, Page 7

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 3.45 p.m

BILLS DEALT WITH

The Perpetual Trustees' Estate and Agency Company Amendment Bill (Hon. Mr Millar) was read a third time and passed. The Church of England Trusts Bill (Mr Statham) was read a seco: <I tvnf*. The McDougaU Trust Esta.e Bill (Mr Lee) was read a third time and passed. PANAMA EXHIBITION. In reply to Mr Russell, The Hon. Mr MASSEY said that the matter of giving the Dominion representation at the Panama Exhibition was still under consideration, inquiries were being made, but no definite decision had been arrived at. SMALLPOX. Mr MYERS (Auckland East) asked if the Minister for Health had noticed the serious allegation made by the Member for Bay of Islands as to the condition which obtains in the northern district in respect to the smallpox ePM? mREED (Bay of Islands) said that he went home last week to investigate matters in connection with the epidemic. He did not wish to be an alarmist, but he found the position to be serious, and the real malignity of the epidemic was not fully realised He estimated that there were fully 300 cases in the north at present, and there had probably been 2000 in all, while a number of deaths had occurred. It was regrettable that a portion of the lymph sent north had failed. There had only been 25 per cent, of "takes." Had the lymph been effective he felt sure that' the disease would have been checked. In reply to Sir Joseph Ward, The MINISTER said that the disease had been treated as smallpox, though the medical men were not agreed as to its true nature. Personal Iv he was of opinion that the disease was not smallpox. . He thought 2000 an exaggerated estimate of the number of^cases. No doubt portion of the lymph had failed, but this had now been remedied, and the Government had arranged for the services of several students of Otago University to assist in the vaccination of the Natives. They had gone north that day. NATIVE BILL. In reply to Mr Parata, The NATIVE MINISTERsaid *at he hoped to bring down a Native Bill in a fortnight.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE. ! Four days' leave of absence was I. granted to the Hon. Mr Ngata. ESTIMATES.

The House then went into Committee of Supply to consider the Estimates.