PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XVIII, Issue 6780, 24 August 1900, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

fPrcss Per Association.)

Wellington, August 23. The Libel Bill No. 3 (Mr Pirani) and tho Married Women's Property Act Amendment Bill were introduced and read a first time.

Replying to questions, Ministers said that it circumstances warranted a survey would be made of a railway to Taieri Eiver via Brighton and Kuri Bush ; that before work was commenced on the section of tho North Island Trunk Bailway from Kawakawa. to Taumarauui the Government would fako the opinion of the House as to the route between the two places, t

Mr Ward moved the second reading of the Shorthand Eeporters' Bill, tho object being to appoint shorthand writers with a view te expediting. Court work. The motion for the second reading was carried on the voices.

Mr Ward moved the second reading of the Public Health Bill. The health laws, he said, at present were in a very unsatisfactory position. If a Central Board of Health found that a nuisance or menace to the public health existed, they were powerless to effect an alteration, while Municipalities had such pressure brought to bear upon them by ratepayers that they wero unable to carry out reform. Health officers would be appointed with large powers, who would have to devote their whole time to their duties, and as a high qualification would be required, the House would have to make provision accordingly.

The Hon. J. G. Ward continued his speech on the second reading of the Public Health Bill, explaining that, amongst other things, the measure provided for a penalty of £5 on householders neglecting to report a case of infectous disease existing on their premises, and the work of fumigating and cleaning infected buildings would frill upon tho owner or occupier, failing their doing the work the Health Officer to carry it out at the expense of the owner or occupier. It also gave the Health Officer power, in the ovent of the local authority failing to carry out sanitary measures, to do tho work at the expense of such local authority. Provision was also made against the pollution of water-courses and tho overcrowding of buildings, and native settlements were brought tinder the operation of tho Bill. Power was also taken for the destruction of unsound meat for human consumption,' for making quarantine regulations, and for repealing the Vaccination Act.