PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9361, 9 November 1910, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

THE CD. ACT,

ITS REPEAL DEMANDED. (Pee Pbess Association.) WELLINGTON, Nov. 8.

In moving the second reading of the Contagious Diseases Repeal Bill the At-torney-General, Hon. Dr. Findlay, drew attention to the urgent necessity of taking, strong measures to cheek the spread of contagious diseases in the Dominion. Hβ had received letters from fathers and mothers and from victims themselves. Dr. Findlay read one of the letters, and it contained most harrowing details of suffering -and physical wreck. He also read a medical report of a case of a boy between 14 and 15 years of age, who had been preyed upon by a middle-aged harpy, details of which were unpublishable. No law would entirely eradicate the evil, but he pointed to the necessity for the compulsory reporting of all cases of sexual diseases, as a means to an end. This wae surely as essential as the reporting of cases of fever. The law as it stood to-day in New Zealand, in the matter of harlotry was a disgrace to civilisation. He intended to do-his best to have a law passed whereby'this unseen evil should be checked; Mr Luke pointed to the necessity of boys and girls in public schools being adequately instructed. Hon. Dr Collins said he had no doubt something would ' have to be introduced to take the place of the law proposed to be repealed. The only way it seemed to him was to have some form of compulsory notification. He would do his best to help to carry out Dr. Findlay's suggestion. Hon. Mr McLean declared that where arid when the Contagious Diseases Act was in operation in New Zealand young girls were off the streets by 9 o'clock. Since it had ceased to be operative they were to be seen at all hours. His opinion was that this Act should be put into operation all over the Dominion until something better was devised. The At-torney-General was trying to do too much, and it would end in little result. Hon. Mr Jories failed to see how Mr McLean could uphold the C.D. Act, which had egregiously failed in its' object. It had led people to suppose they could practice immorality with impunity, and had been productive of great injury. The Act was a shame to our civilisation, which made rcspectablo girls ashamed to be on the street after 9 o'clock at night, and liable to be accosted by a policeman. After some further discussion the Bill was read a second time. LAND SETTLEMENT FINANCE. The Land bcttlement Finance Bill was taken in committee. Clauses 7 to 10 inclusive, providing for limited liability of members, letting of unoccupied allotments, and that no person may hold more than one allotment, wore eliminated on the recom-. mendation of the Statutes Revision Committee. A new clause wae adopted as a suggestion to the House under which, for the purpose of providing a fund for expenses" of management of and losses incurred by an association, it is provided that on execution of transfer or conveyance of allotment, in pursuance of Section 26 of the principal Act, the purchaser of that allotment shall pay to the association a sum equal to one-half per cent, of the purchase money for the allotment, this to be in addition to the purchase money, and not us part thereof. A new clause was inserted on the motion of the Attorney-General, providing for setting aside any area or areas of land for school, church, cemetery, recreation ground, dairy factory, or any other purpose of common utility. The Bill was reported with amendments. COMMERCIAL TRUSTS. The Commercial Trusts Bill was taken in committee. Hon. Mr Bcehan moved to include fish in the schedule of goods to which the Act applies. Dr. Findlay said if he admitted fish he would have to admit a great many other things. On a division the amendment was carried by 12 to 5. The Bill was reported and read a third time. OTHER BILLS. The Opium Amendment Bill was reported unamended and passed. The Kaiapoi Reserves Bill was reported with amendment and passed, and the inspection of Machinery Bill was reported without amendment and passed. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. GAMING AND LICENSING BILLS THIS WEEK. The House met at 2.30 p.m. The Speaker announced that Bills might be passed through all stages during one sitting. . Replying to Mr Masscy, the Premier said he hoped to have all the Bills the Government desired carried through the House circulated before Tuesday next, and would do all in his power to expedite business. ■ v - The Hine Committee would not nnisn for ten days or a fortnight. The Public j Works Statement could not be brought down before Tuesday owing to. pressure of work. He proposed .to make the Licensing Bill the first item on the order paper for Thursday, and previous to that he desired to see the Gaming Bill out of the way. Owing to the Hine Committee sitting it was impossible to fix a date for the close of the session. BILLS PASSED. ! . The following Bills passed all stages: —Companies Amendment, Judicature Amendment, Education Reserve Amendment, Counties Amendment. DESTITUTE PERSONS. The Destitute Persons Bill initiated in the Legislative Council was committed. Mr T. M. Wilford moved an amendment to clause 21 which gives interpretations of persons and offences mentioned in the Bill by defining habitual drunkard as one who "frequently" (and not "habitually" as in the Bill) indulges in strong drink to excess. On a division the Amendment was lost by 42 votes to 21. Mr Russell moved an amendment having as its object the making of relatives of the father of an illegitimate person responsible for his maintenance, which was carried on the voices. Clause 10 contains a sub-clause which provides that the evidence of the mother of an illegitimate child, or a woman with child, shall not be necessary for making an affiliation order or maintenance order, and Mr Wilford moved that the sub-clause be struck out. On a division the clause was retained by 36 to 23. Mr Wilford challenged a division on Clause 70, ,, which provides that defendant in summary nroceedings shall have no right of trial by jury. The clause was rejected by 39 to 25. The Bill was reported with amendments. LOCAL BODIES LOANS.. The Local Bodies Loans Amendment Bill was committed. At Clause 2, which deals with proceedings for loans before the commencement of the State Guaran-. teed Advances Act, Mr Newman moved an amendment making the clause apply to loans which had been provisionally approved. The amendment was rejected. Mr Maesey moved a new clause to the effect that the sinking funds in regard to municipal loans not guaranteed by the Government need not be invested in Government securities. It was' lost by_ 37 to 34, and the-Bill 1 was reported with amendments.