HOSPITALS BILL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 317, 1 February 1922, Page 5

HOSPITALS BILL.

MUCH OPPOSITION SHOWN. ■ ANOTHER LATE sitting. (Per Press Association.) WBLLINGTON, Jan. 51. The Hhspilal and Charitable Aid Instiluiions Amendment Hill was taken in committee this evening. The Hon. J. A. Haiian said a Bill ot such a contentious nature should not be brought on at such a late hour. It was not fair to members who bad had a strenuous dav. It simply meant that a Dill that should lie carefully considered would ho rushed through. He specially objected to the clauses dealing with private hospitals. These clauses should be. held over to enable the British Medical Association to meet and express an opinion on them. The Minister saitl he had no intention of forcing these clauses through At me same time they were the result of careful thought by his departmental officers. Me thought that it was in the interests o the public that private hospitals should ho subject to closer inspection. He asked the House to pass these clauses, and when met went to the Legislative Council the British Medical Association would have an oppoi,‘unity of stating their objections before, the committee of that body. Mr McLeod objected to clauses 7 and b. which provided for an immediate ety amiinst local bodies when it was well known that these bodies had not collected any rates and that owing to the large number of soldier settlers at least 25 per cent, ot the fates cannot he collected, The Minister said he proposed to modity that portion of the Lid- , . . Members continued to urge objections to the Bill, and at 25 minutes past 12 AU Veitch moved to report progress, which was defeated by 51 votes to IT. The Premier asiced the yommittee to pass the first clause, and then he would agree to report progress. .. ... , ■ The Hon. J. A. Ha-nan said if the ALi m lor would, hold over the ol.icct.oiml.lt clauses he would not offer further oppo.iU The Premier said the Minister had agreed '°Mr Hanan said that in those circumstances he was satisfied. Mr McCombs congratulated the Aliniski or- bringing down such a Bill- llieie was great need for better supervision of private h °r)r. l * Newiiiull supported the Bill as a whole ami hoped it would pass. He. however objected to the withdrawing of -subsidies’from certain charitable institutions. After further discussion and opposition to the Bill the Premier promised that the measure should again he considered by Cabinet, which meant, he said that session must go on next week. Ibis, however, did not relax the opposi ion. WELLINGTON, 1< el>. - After the telegraph office closed .fast idi'ht the opposition to the Bill became obviously better organised, and there was every appearance of a protracted opposition General' principles were debated nnu ls a.m„ when Mr Kcllett. moved an amen ■ men! postponing the opera ion of the hit 9 until 1923. This was defeated by 29 uit 1 t 0 14 A motion to report progress was 1 immediately moved and w’as discussed um I ‘3 30 a.m., when it was defeated by 30 ' ■ to 12. The first clause was then pawed. 1 The House rose at 3.30 a.m. until 2.3 J ) p.m, to-day.