POLITICAL NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 5030, 30 July 1903, Page 7

POLITICAL NEWS.

MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS BILL. Sir J. G. Ward’s Medical Practitioners Registration Bill is intended to do for medical practitioners what the Law Practitioners Bill purposes doing for the legal profession. It provides for reciprocity between this colony _ and the United Kingdom and British dependencies. Under the Bill an applicant registered under the provisions regulating the registration of medical practitioners in tho United mgdom shall ho admitted to practice in New Zealand; the holder of a diploma granted by a university in any British possession, after a course of five years’ study of the subjects pertaining to a medical or surgical degree or license, is to.be entitled to be registered under tho Medical Practitioners Registration Act. 1869, of this colony, provided that by the law of that possession registered _ practitioners, of New Zealand are in like manner entitled to registration. ASYLUM ATTENDANTS. The Hon W. Ha 11-Tonos states, in re-‘ gard to the proposal of Mr Witty that a superannuation scheme should be established for asylum attendants, that ho does not think such a scheme would work well, as tho attendants do not remain long enough in the service. However, he intends to consider the matter. Mr TTII recommends that asylum nurses should be required to pass an examination such as may be prescribed by a conference of medical superintendents. , The Hon W. HallTones states that tho medical superintendent of each asvlum engages the attendants for that institution and takes care, of cenrse. that they are well equipped for their duties. It is. however, an open nncstion. he says, whether there should not he some prescribed examination, and be has promised to consider the subject. 'FTTH WELLINGTON MUSEUM. Tho Commissioner of Stamps stated yesterday afternoon that the establishment of a National Maori Museum was

being delayed owing to certain changes contemplated in tho w elhiigton Museum owing to Sir James Hector’s retirement. The Government tnought it odvisamo that a suitable and capable man should be obtained as curator tor the museum. Air X. Aiackenzie suggested Air Hamilton, the Registrar ot the -.ago University, and tho Hon J. Earroll remarked that Air Hamilton was the gentleman lie was prepared to recommend to his colleagues tor the posiuon. Legislation was necessary, he added, in regard to the future management of tho museum. WAIKANAE RIVER. Air Field asked the Government yesterday to despatch a specially qualified engineer to Wa-ikanao to inspect the encroachments of the Waikanaa river, and to advise as to the best means of preventing such encroachments, and so, if possible, prevent the continuance of the loss of valuable land which is occurring on tho occasion ’of every flood, and avert the imminent danger to roads and other public works in tho district. The Alinister of Public Works replied that as this affected private land it seemed to be a question for private enterprise, but ho would have a report made on the subject. JOTTINGS. Any further superannuation scheme decided upon should bo one for the Civil Service as a whole and not for any particular branch of tho service—says the Hon Air McGowan. ' Air Wood presented a petition from the Wellington Harbour Board yesterday against the Bill vesting the foreshore at Potono in tho Mayor, Council and burgesses of Petone. It is urged by Mr Field that the Government should give substantial assistance in. tho establishment of libraries in country places. Sir Joseph Ward explained yesterday to the House that he had, in his speech on tho Address-in-Rcply, inadvertently confounded the Registrar of Electors at 'Alastorton with the returning officer. Ho should, he said, have used the words “ returning officer.” A petition from Christchurch residents for an investigation into the theory of constructive impact lately propounded by Professor Bickcirton was presented yesterday by Air Taylor. Air Field wishes tho Government to suspend tho imposition of the sheep tax so long as the colony is free from scab. Tho necessity of revising tho laws in reference to trawling was brought yesterday by Air T. Aiackenzie before the notice of the Minister of Alarine, who stated that ho would bo glad to conaider tho subject and receive suggostioss from those interested. In answer to a question by Air Barber as to tho prospect' of constructing a harbour at Island Bay, tho Minister of Alarino read a departmental report yesterday, which showed that while a harbour for small .craft could bo made there it would not bo possible for largo vessels to use it; and as thoro is already a good harbour at. Port Nicholson the Alinister did not give any hope that ono would bo constructed at Island Bay. Tho Alinister of Public Works was asked yesterday to direct the, Roads Department to put the road in repair between tho Upper Opaki road a'nd tho site of tho suspension bridge in process of construction over tho Rnamahnnga river, and so save the unfortunate beasts of burden travelling . over the road and spare , the profanity of the drivers. Air Hall-Joues thought it wonld bo better to allow the bridge contract to bo completed first, but the matter,, ho stated, wou’d be considered when tho Public Works Estimates wero being framed. Tho Alinister of Public Works has received thousands of applications for grants for roads and bridges, and told Mr Vilo so yesterday when the latter asked for a grant of £1 for £1 for a bridge over the Alanawatn river at the ■ Shannon Ferry crossing. However, tho member for Alanawatn was informed that tho application would be considered at the time of the framing of tho Public Works Estimates.